A TRANSPORT scheme has taken a leaf out of the Italians' book by employing a fleet of mopeds to combat rural isolation.

The cheap and cheerful choice of transport for most Europeans, the moped is now the centre piece of an innovative scheme to increase the amount of jobs available to people aged between 16 and 25.

Under the Wheels to Work scheme, launched on Thursday in Durham, young people are loaned a moped if a lack of public transport threatens to limit their job opportunities. It funds training at Ace Motorcycle Training, in Durham City, the loan of a vehicle, insurance and protective clothing.

Even breakdown cover is included and either Langley Park Community Transport or Ace Motorcycle Training, two of the organisations behind the scheme, will collect and fix the mopeds and loan a replacement. The whole package amounts to between £2,500 and £3,000 per person.

Kevin Dick, 18, is one of the scheme's first participants.

His working day at Consett Post Office begins at 5am and without transport he would be unable to get from his home in Blackhill, County Durham.

He said: "I'm not sure whether I would have got this job if it wasn't for the moped, because I was asked how I would get to work and I told them about this scheme."

So far only job-seekers in Derwentside are eligible, but Dinah Jackson from the Countryside Agency said it was looking at funding similar schemes elsewhere in the region.

She said: "The Countryside Agency is looking to fund transport schemes that help people to get to work, training, health services or social activities that people in rural areas do not have the opportunity to participate in."