Hambleton District Council in North Yorkshire has launched a new cycling scheme for locals.

The 12-week ‘Cycling for Health’ programme – which covers Thirsk and the surrounding area – is open to anyone “wanting to benefit from regular exercise”.

Participants will be given a bike, a helmet and a trained instructor for duration of the course. The instructors will lead short rides around the district.

The scheme is an offshoot of the council’s exercise referral scheme, which involves GPs and health professionals.

Lisa Wilson, the council’s Lifestyles manager, said: “The cycling scheme will work along the same lines [as the referral programme] but instead of going to the gym, the ‘patients’ will be out on the road.

“Getting on to a bike on the open road is far more exciting than sitting on one in a gym – it is a healthy, environmentally friendly and sociable way of getting around and can make a real difference to fitness and health.”