A NEW bike bank has opened in the region.

The bank is in Tadcaster Grammar School and is the latest in a series to open in the region in the aftermath of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire in 2014.

They allow people to borrow a bike for free when required.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “The Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries have been a huge success and they are a great way for us to get Yorkshire’s children out and about on two wheels. The libraries are run using donated bikes and I’d encourage anyone who has an unused bike at home to consider donating it.”

Steve Green from Positive Youth, the organisation that runs the Tadcaster bike library said: “We’re always on the lookout for donations of bikes: whatever age, whatever condition. We’re especially interested in children’s and young people’s bikes, so we offer an ideal solution for bikes that children have grown out of.”

Mary Weastell, chief executive of Selby District Council, joined some of her staff as they handed over a donation of bikes to help kickstart the project.

She said: “Cycling is becoming ever-more high profile in the Selby district, supported by our continued involvement in the Tour de Yorkshire which returns to our area again in a few months.

"We really want to build on this interest and excitement about cycling by supporting the Yorkshire Bank Bike Library project."

You can donate to Tadcaster's bike bank at Scarthingwell Golf Course, Scarthingwell, Tadcaster LS24 9PF, from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays, or at Mackinder Farms Holiday Accommodation, Keeper Cottage, Gateforth New Road, Brayton, Selby, YO8 9BF. Alternatively, if you have a bike to donate, email positiveyouth@outlook.com