YORK should become a pioneering cycling city, according to its MP.

Hugh Bayley says York should become a "cycling demonstration town" to help encourage more people to get on their bike.

He was speaking as the Government announced it was to spend £140 million to improve cycling provision nationwide.

There are already eight cycling demonstration towns, where the Government has invested £8.5 million over three years. The money has been used to provide bike and parking spaces at schools, to create secure storage at workplaces and shops and to build more cycle routes.

Mr Bayley said: "York is the cycling capital of the north of England. More people cycle in York than almost any other city.

"We had a lot of investment in cycle lanes and cycle parking, but it has tailed off in recent years.

"Some of the cycle lanes are ten years old and now need to be repaired, improved and extended. We also need to spend more training children about cycle safety. York should be bidding to become a cycling demonstration town and if City of York Council put in an application, I will back them."

Paul Hepworth, of York CTC, said: "Cycling levels in York have levelled in the past few years, partly due to travel patterns altered by peripheral developments.

"If we are added to the Cycling England list of demonstration towns, the city will be able to do so much more to get people back on their bikes."

Revealing the Government funding package, Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport said: "Cycling is good for your health and fitness and helps tackle congestion on the roads and improve local air quality."