A pedalling paramedic is all set to patrol the city's streets.

An experiment in providing a two-wheeled emergency service, the first of its kind in the north of England, is being launched within the city walls.

Paramedic Mark Inman, 37, will ride a state of the art bicycle carrying all the latest lifesaving equipment, including a defibrillator for cardiac victims, as he patrols the city centre.

The Life-Cycle project is being run as a trial by the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS) in a bid to respond even more quickly to people suffering a life-threatening illness or injury.

Project manager Paul Brown said: "The use of such a versatile machine will allow TENYAS to target resources more effectively.

"In some cases then bicycle response may allow a conventional ambulance to be 'stood down', thereby releasing it for another emergency."

He added Mr Inman would liaise with market traders, businesses and the public to offer advice and support, as well as watching out for emergencies.

"It's something we haven't gone into before, but it's similar to community policing it's 'community ambulancing', if you like," added Mr Brown.

"York lends itself very well to the initiative there's a labyrinth of snickleways and alleyways and the pedestrianised area. The cyclist can get across from one side of the city to the other much quicker than a conventional ambulance."

A similar scheme is already running in East Anglia and has been tried in London. Mr Brown, who also stressed the "green" side of the scheme, said if the project was successful they would like it to become a "beacon" for other ambulance services to follow.

The ambulance, which started life as a standard mountain bike, has been fitted by York firm Cycle Heaven with extra panniers and a rack for its equipment, improved wheels and brakes, and blue flashing lights and a siren.

The trial period runs from May 1 to August 31, when visitor numbers are at their peak.

* As well as Cycle Heaven, TENYAS thanked Tesco, Maxiprint, the British Heart Foundation and One2One Communications for their support.

Updated: 09:00 Wednesday, April 18, 2001