For the first time, motorists in the UK will see driver-less cars sharing the road on their morning commute.

The Department of transport announced today that testing of the vehicles will be allowed on public roads, provided a qualified driver is present in the car.

From the summer, the cars, which had previously been restricted to private spaces, will be free to share the roads as they are in a number of US states.

The department revealed Milton Keynes, Greenwich, Bristol and Coventry as the first cities which will see what many are calling the future of road transport.

Britain is keen to get ahead of the curve and entice manufacturers of the vehicles to set up there.

A code of practice for the cars will be introduced in the coming months.