EVERY ten-year-old in York is to get cycle training thanks to a new expansion of the council's nationally- acclaimed training programme.

City of York Council's pre-basic cycling skills course will provide all year five school pupils with a free half-day training session covering general cycling skills, bike maintenance and use of gears and brakes.

The aim of the course is to increase the number of children cycling in the city, and will help complement the range of existing courses run by the council's road safety training team.

Mieke Jackson, the council's road safety training co-ordinator, said trial schemes had already been a success.

She said: "The aim of the pre-basic skills course is to provide children with basic cycling skills and to increase their confidence.

"The feedback we've had from four pilot schools has been really positive and we've seen a real difference in the competence of the children who've been on the course."

Coun Janet Looker, the council's executive member for education, said: "Learning cycling skills is an important extension of the main education curriculum.

"As well as helping the younger children with their cycling, the course also helps their confidence and co-ordination."

The pre-basic course is free and is tailored to complement existing road-safety courses for children, which focus on safety on the road.

The council's road safety team provides a range of cycling courses for children, from the pre-basic level for young children to an advanced course for secondary school pupils.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the council's executive member for transport, said teaching children cycling skills was "vital".

"City of York Council is leading the way in promoting greener travel, and teaching our children cycling skills is a vital part of achieving reduced congestion and safer, cleaner travel in York," she said.

Updated: 09:31 Friday, January 24, 2003