A growth in cycling numbers could lead to huge UK health benefits and a reduction in NHS spending, according to a report conducted by Cambridge University and commissioned by British Cycling.

The report has found that if cycling made up 10 per cent of all trips, compared to the current rate of 2 per cent, Britain would benefit from an equivalent of more than one million years of healthy living measured over a decade.

This is in part due to lower rates of inactivity-related illnesses that can develop in people who do not partake in enough regular exercise.

The research suggests that even small changes in behaviour could bring important health benefits to Britons.

For example, the report suggests that if people took five minutes from the average of 36 minutes spent in a car each day and passed this time onto using a bike, the NHS would see a 5 per cent decrease in illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

As well as large health benefits, the study has also found that if one in ten journeys in the UK were made by bike, the NHS could make savings of up to £250m each year.

The report was commissioned by British Cycling as it seeks to campaign to improve everyday cycling in the UK, with the research being used to help launch a 10-point manifesto labelled Time to Choose Cycling.

The manifesto outlines recommendations alluding to the benefits of cycling, while also outlining measures required to improve safety and boost the number of bike users in the UK.

More information on the campaign can be found here.