A CHARITY which enables the elderly and people with limited mobility to enjoy free bike rides has celebrated its first birthday.

Cycling Without Age Prudhoe, set up by town councillor and chairman of trustees Chris Barrett and fellow councillor the late Martin Foster, marked the milestone on April 2.

And as Covid restrictions begin to ease, the charity is looking to train more volunteers, known as ‘pilots’, to operate its trishaws.

A trishaw is battery power assisted, reverse tricycle with a double bench seat.

The group secured its own trike in August after borrowing a similar model from Newburn.

Chris said: “We can’t wait to get the more vulnerable members of our community, who have had to shield, out in the fresh air.

"The more volunteers we have, the more passengers we can accommodate.

“We would like to reiterate to people that although we are called Cycling Without Age Prudhoe, we are very much a resource for the benefit of anyone in the Tynedale area with limited mobility.”

The charity operates along the Hadrian Cycleway from Prudhoe Riverside Park to Wylam and has recently received a generous donation to purchase a trailer to transport the trishaw to other local areas.

If anyone is interested in becoming a pilot or passenger, they can go through the Cycling Without Age Prudhoe Facebook page or email c.barrett@cyclingwithoutage.org.uk

Cycling Without Age is a global scheme, running in various towns and cities, and allows people to get back on a bicycle.

The charity received a funding boost to the tune of £6,000 from Northumberland County Council’s Members Funding Scheme from Coun. Gordon Stewart, of Prudhoe South, and featured on Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green.