A PROJECT which will enable the elderly and people with limited mobility to enjoy bike rides has received a bumper boost.

Cycling Without Age Prudhoe this month became officially registered as a charity, and received a £6,000 boost from Northumberland County Council’s Members Funding Scheme secured by county councillor for Prudhoe South Gordon Stewart.

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

Trishaws are battery power assisted, reverse tricycles with a double bench seat at the front.

Chris Barrett, town councillor and chair of trustees at the group, formed it last year alongside fellow councillor, the late Martin Foster, and the group has since been fund-raising to buy its own trishaw.

It is hoping to have the funds to buy one for soon after the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.

Members trialled the scheme by borrowing bikes from a nearby group in Newburn and offering rides in Prudhoe’s Riverside Park.

Coun. Barrett said: “The older members of our community are among those who have had to self-isolate from day one and we can’t wait to do our part to get them back out into our fantastic countryside and integrated once more.”

Coun. Gordon Stewart said: “I am delighted to be able to support this great local charity, which will help so many people access the great outdoors in Prudhoe.

“It will help with tourism for the town which is still a high priority, and will be reinforced after the lockdown is lifted.”

People can support the fund-raising effort by visiting GoFundMe and searching for Cycling Without Age Prudhoe.