WORKERS are being urged to get on their bikes as part of a scheme to get people off four wheels and onto two.

Anyone who works for a business with a travel plan can borrow a bike for free, thanks to Worcestershire County Council's Choose How You Move team.

They can borrow a bike for three months and then either return it or buy it for £100.

The bikes come with lights, a bell, mudguards, pannier rack and panniers, bike pump and a lock.

To begin with 20 bikes will be available but this could be increased if the scheme proves a success.

Bikes will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis with five bikes available for each company. Simon Whitehead, passenger transport senior marketing and communications officer, said: "We hope that at the end of the three-month period participants in the scheme will have caught the cycling bug and go on to buy their own bike."

A travel plan can include car sharing, a commitment to improve cycling facilities, a dedicated bus service or restricted car parking. About 200,000 bicycles are thrown away each year in the UK. Motov8, a Worcester based charity, helps reduce the number of bicycles going to landfill through collecting, repairing and re-selling old bikes, which then go to the council for use in the project.

Anyone who would like to register their interest should contact Simon Whitehead on either 01905 765781 or swhitehead@worcestershire.gov.uk.