AA will use motorbike patrols to reach breakdowns 25 per cent quicker, following a successful three-month trial in London.

Five cities – Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester – will benefit from the scheme, along with London where 23 bikes will patrol the capital.

During the trial, a team of 14 bikes got to most breakdowns at least a third quicker than vans.

The patrols will focus on quick-fix problems such as flat batteries, wheel changes and simple electrical faults, which cause over a third of breakdowns attended by the AA each year.

Bikes are expected to cut breakdown wait times from 40 minutes to 30 minutes.