A PROJECT which plans to allow elderly people and those with limited mobility to enjoy the pleasure of bike rides has been set up in Prudhoe.

The first meeting of Cycling Without Age Prudhoe saw organisers – town councillors Chris Barrett and Martin Foster – meet with residents from Red Brick House care home and local people to trial the project.

The scheme, which runs in towns and cities across the country and further afield, allows the elderly to get back on a bicycle by volunteers – known as pilots – taking them for rides on a trishaw.

For the trial last week, organisers borrowed two trishaws from the nearby group based at Newburn Activity Centre.

As a result of its success, they now have plans to begin fund-raising for their own.

Coun. Barrett said: “We want to buy one trishaw initially which is a reverse tricycle with a seat at the front designed for people with limited mobility to experience the pleasure of a bike ride. We plan to operate from the Prudhoe Riverside Park along a section of the Hadrian Cycleway to Newburn via Wylam.”

They plan to begin fund-raising on their Facebook page Cycling Without Age Prudhoe.