A BIKE recycling shop has opened in Durham to encourage more residents to mturnto pedal power.

Recyke y’bike, which is based in Newcastle, has a second store next to Durham Bus Station in North Road.

People can donate unwanted bikes that are refurbished by trained mechanics and volunteers before being sold by the shop.

Some bikes will be sent to Africa to support school and community health projects.

As well as helping people who were previously afford to take up cycling by offering cheaper, refurbished bikes, Recyke y’bike’s trained mechanics can also help keep people on the road by offering repairs and servicing bikes.

Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County Councilo’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “By supporting Recyke y’bike we’re not only helping an extremely worthwhile charity but trying to make sure that cycling is affordable and open to everyone. As well as encouraging a healthier, more environmentally friendly way of travelling, and reducing traffic, it also cuts down on the amount of bikes being sent to landfill.”

John Litherland, chair of Recyke y’bike, said: “We’re delighted to establish the Durham bike shop in North Road and would like to thank Durham County Council for its support in making this possible.

“At Recyke y’bike our aim is to provide affordable, refurbished bikes and low cost accessories to encourage more people to cycle. To do this, our charity relies on the generosity of people who donate bikes. Most are re-sold here whilst others, some 530 bikes in the last year alone, are shipped abroad to aid disadvantaged communities in Africa.”

Visit www.recyke-y-bike.org for more information.