ASYLUM seekers in Sunderland are enjoying pedal power, thanks to a flourishing recycling scheme.

Lazarus Environment, in The Parade, Hendon, takes unwanted household items, including bikes and furniture, and refurbishes them before distributing them to local families.

The volunteers have developed a bike-hire service, which is proving very popular among the 1,000 asylum seekers living in the area.

Chris Jones, of Lazarus Environment, said: "The household recycling scheme has meant we can help people on low incomes to redecorate their homes and receive the furniture they need.

"Our bike-hire scheme is very popular indeed. We have 1,000 asylum seekers in the area and they would not normally have access to bikes."

The not-for-profit business, which started nine months ago, has proved so popular that it is likely to expand.

The group is adding a £250,000 recycling unit in nearby Lombard Street with the help of a £125,210 grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), matched by contributions from a number of charities.

The facility will recycle plastic and glass bottles and aluminium.

The money raised will help fund schemes to benefit the community.

Up to ten jobs will be created at the unit and a further 48 people will be trained in waste industry management.

"The original pilot scheme was to recycle household waste, but we wanted to look at other commodities and set up a sustainable environmental facility for the area," said Mr Jones.

"Thanks to the ERDF funding and our charitable contributors, we are really going from strength to strength and we are on the threshold of launching our recycling unit."