A partnership including the Forestry Commission England, Hoseasons Holidays and CTC Charitable Trust is launching Cycle Xtra, a new scheme to encourage more holidaymakers to take up cycling.

It aims to utilise leisure destinations where cycling can be introduced to those who would otherwise not consider cycling in their daily lives.

Various cycling activities will be on offer at five Hoseasons holiday parks in England.

Each location has been selected based on its proximity to a Forestry Commission site with access to dedicated cycling routes and facilities.

The holiday destinations are Finlake Holiday Lodges near Exeter, Oakdene Forest Park near Ringwood, Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest near Mansfield, Griffon Forest near York and Kielder near Newcastle.

There will be a dedicated Cycle Xtra officer at each site to offer holidaymakers a varied and entertaining programme of different cycling activities.

Funding for the development of Cycle Xtra has come from Cycling England, a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Transport with the aim of getting 'more people cycling, more safely, more often.'

Transport minister Norman Baker said: "The Government made a clear commitment to support sustainable travel initiatives, including cycling and walking - great ways of getting a bit of exercise in our daily lives.

"Cycle Xtra is a very good example of how community-based projects can make a positive contribution by changing mindsets and so changing people's long term travel habits.

"By getting people cycling in a safe and fun environment like this they'll hopefully keep it up when they get home."

Hoseasons' senior product account executive Guy Roberts said: "An increasing number of our customers specifically ask for cycling activities on site when they book their holiday with us. We usually have to refer them to off-site bike hire businesses which can be inconvenient.

"Having a fleet of bikes permanently on site for visitors to use as well as organised cycling activities is a great additional feature our customers can benefit from during the summer season".