AN innovative scheme that provides bicycles for people travelling to work or attending training sessions will be unveiled by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon tomorrow.

The project is aimed at unemployed people, refugees and other members of the community.

The scheme is led by environmental charity, Middlesbrough Environment City, whose Cycle Task Force will be giving bicycle safety and maintenance workshops to the scheme's trainees.

They will be repairing and maintaining a stock of donated second-hand bikes, which will then be used by the community to access training, employment and voluntary work.

The project has been supported with a £5,000 grant from Middlesbrough Council's Community and Cultural Fund, backed by the Single Regeneration Budget and a £4,000 National Lottery Awards for All grant.

Cleveland Police have also provided 20 bicycles towards the scheme.

The course will be held one morning a week for more than 14 weeks, with up to ten students on each course, supervised by four trainers from Middlesbrough Environment City.

On their course the trainees will learn about the Highway Code, map reading and route planning.

On the practical side, they will learn how to assess the condition of a bicycle, and learn how to strip down, repair and build a bike.

Taking the Cycle Proficiency test will be an integral part of the training.

The scheme is backed by the Government Office for the North-East and the North-East Refugee Service, which has received £1,400 as one of two agencies awarded a grant from the Department for Transport's Cycling Projects Fund.

Adam Gray, from the council, said: "The council's Community and Cultural Fund supports community development schemes in central Middlesbrough.

"The bicycle project will help many people in these areas to access training, paid work and voluntary work opportunities."