A Worcester shopping centre is doing its bit to encourage people to get cycling.

Crowngate Shopping Centre has partnered with Bike Worcester to launch a bicycle recycling scheme.

A team of Bike Worcester volunteers will be hosting regular sessions at the centre, helping to refurbish bikes and teach visitors about maintenance.

Crowngate already hosts free bike storage and manager Mike Lloyd is excited for this latest development.

He said: “This is a great extension of the free Cycle Storage facility which we already offer at Crowngate and is an amazing opportunity to do so much good for the community who can get involved.

“This type of project is invaluable to communities as it helps to provide free skillsets which may just be to help you maintain your own bike but also could inspire future generations of engineers.

“The sustainable aspect of recycling bikes in itself is fantastic but cycling is an excellent way to get fit, clear the mind and enjoy sights that others may not see on many cycle paths throughout Worcestershire.”

READ MORE: Can you donate an old bicycle to help the environment?

The new scheme is based off successful projects in towns such as Evesham and Malvern  and has been funded by Worcestershire County Council and Aquabio, a local environmental sustainability business.

Bike Worcester, a cycling advocacy group, hopes the project will encourage people to cycle more and reduce the environmental impact of sending old bikes off for scrap.

It will also provide Worcester residents with access to more affordable bikes.

Philip Jones of Bike Worcester said: “At Bike Worcester we believe that cycling should be an everyday choice for travelling around the city: to school, to work and to meet friends.

“With our bike recycling scheme, we want to make cycling accessible to more people, and at the same time ensure that bikes don’t go to waste or get scrapped unnecessarily.”

Bike Worcester is working with Worcester City Council on the project and is looking to partner with local charities to find people most in need of affordable bikes.

So far, the group has received a number of children’s bikes which will help parents who are unable to afford to purchase new bicycles as their kids grow.

Anyone wishing to donate a bike is asked to take it down to the indoor bike parking area in Crowngate Shopping Centre, opposite Vision Express on Friary Walk.