CYCLING enthusiast Steve Lynn is making it his business to get more people riding towards a healthier lifestyle.

Mr Lynn, 41, has set up CycleTrex with guidance from business development experts from Walker Hall Associates.

Having qualified and registered as an off-road training consultant, he is carving out a career in the countryside, leading off-road mountain bikers on rides he designs to suit their ability level.

He said: "I am not trying to get more people involved in a sport, but in a more active, healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.

"Off-road cycling is healthy dirty fun - it strengthens the body and the mind, helping you to control such health issues as weight, body shape, nutrition and sleep."

He said: "The beauty of cycling is that it does not favour either sex. Also, cycling does not discriminate against age. Most keen cyclists can continue well into old age. And it can be enjoyed alone or in a group."

Mr Lynn invested more than £12,000 of a redundancy payment into equipping CycleTrex with 16 mountain bikes and associated equipment, including helmets, gloves and cycling rucksacks, and a trailer to transport it all.

CycleTrex is aimed at youth and community groups keen to encourage young people to take part in a healthy outdoor pastime.