Segways on a roll at Cannock Chase adventure park

But two-wheeled segways are becoming as common a sight as mountain bikes among the thick forest and winding paths on Cannock Chase.

And bosses at forest adventure park Go Ape, which hosts the segway tours seven days a week, say they are a hit with customers.

Duty manager Stacey Palmer said: "We brought the segways over to Cannock because there was a market for them.

"Being on a segway gives people an alternative way to see the wonderful Chase.

"You can see miles and miles of beautiful scenery and not actually step onto the ground. There are some lovely, picturesque routes that we take people along.

"We are busier in the school holidays and weekends, but we do get people coming along in the week."

The 20 segways housed at Go Ape at the Birches Valley end of the Chase are used seven days a week.

They only take a back seat in the winter months when the tours are put on hold because of the bad weather.

When they were first introduced on the Chase two years ago, they were mainly aimed at corporate parties for team bonding sessions.

However, the unique experience is now proving more popular with hen and stag parties, as well as family birthdays.

Groups that sign up for the tours are given a 15 minute safety talk and demonstration before they are able to hop on the vehicles and are set free into the forest.

Go Ape's Cara Mayne added: "People arrive at the cabin and they are greeted by staff. They have to fill out all the paperwork before being fitted with helmets for safety.

"The segways are hard to manoeuvre and they take a bit of getting used to. It's all about getting used to balancing on them

"We go along some lovely paths around the forest.

"It's a different view from being on a bike or walking.

"When the Segway tours started they were mainly aimed at the co-operative market like team bonding days. But now they are getting really popular with hen and stag parties as well as family birthdays. It's a great alternative to see the woods from the ground and not up at a height for people afraid of heights."

The segways weigh around 25kg and sessions last for an hour.

Riders are let loose to go and explore the forest on the self-balancing electric segways. They are able to get off the beaten track for an hour of fun on one of the rugged all-terrain segways, guided by qualified instructors from Go Ape.

Segways were invented by Dean Kamen in America.

The name segway is derived from the word segue, meaning smooth transition.

Computers and motors in the base of the device keep the segway upright, but when powered on, users have to balance on the two-wheeled vehicle for a smooth ride.