A JOINT venture to give disabled people in York and North Yorkshire a taste of the outdoors has kicked off in fine style.

Children with learning disabilities from the York and Selby area were riding specially-adapted bikes near Rowntree Park yesterday.

The project, the first of its kind in the city, was organised by the physiotherapy department at York Hospitals NHS Trust and City of York Council, to give people with learning disabilities the chance to experience cycle riding.

Dot Wagstaff, York Hospital's physiotherapy manager, said: "We know that these patients would love cycling, but they get very little opportunity to do it in a safe environment.

"We would love to get this up and running on a regular basis and are hoping to get a second day organised for September."

Mieke Jackson, the council's road safety training chief, said: "We are working in partnership with the hospital to help fund, and offer an opportunity, to promote and encourage cycling to people who find it difficult to access this form of exercise."

Updated: 08:35 Thursday, July 10, 2003