OXFORD University has encouraged its returning students to make use of a new dockless bike scheme in the city.

Chinese firm Ofo - dubbed ‘Uber for bikes’ - launched its fleet of yellow bikes in the city earlier this week and the University urged its alumni to give them a go next month.

The popular ‘alumni weekend’ sees hundreds of graduates return to Oxford for a series of tours, talks and activities.

The university’s news site Oxford Today pointed out that the weekend would coincide with Ofo’s six-week trial in the city.

Thousands of undergraduates arriving in the city next month are also expected to make use of the scheme, which works by downloading a smartphone app.

The University’s site also said ‘bad parking’ and maintenance could be an issue.

It is the company’s second foray into the UK market after launching a trial in Cambridge earlier this year.

The bikes were used on average 2-3 times every day and hundreds more could be rolled out later this year.

Cambridge City Council leader Lewis Herbert said Oxford would need to work to make sure it didn’t become a ‘leave and dump a bike anywhere’ scheme.

He said he was currently working with Ofo on a ‘properly managed’ system for when the scheme expands.

The first full day of Oxford’s trial saw bikes strewn over the pavement but those teething problems seem to have been resolved since its launch on Monday.