KEEN cyclists have held a celebration to mark a milestone for a scheme aimed at getting more women out on their bikes.

Audrey Christie and Jackie Patrickson lead rides for the Breeze network in Durham, which has been running since 2012 and is aimed at increasing the number of women involved in cycling.

While early rides often involved groups of two or three people, now they mostly have between 16 and 20 women taking part.

Ms Patrickson said: "Breeze has been a fantastic programme to be involved with over the past seven years. I have met so many wonderful women, made great friends and taken the opportunity to visit every single coffee and cake stop in the county, all whilst getting exercise and enjoying the fresh air.

"A recent survey by Sport England has shown record rates of women now taking up cycling and becoming more active and Audrey and I are so proud to be part of this change."

Both women have now led 150 rides, while more than 300 women have been involved with the scheme.

Regular rider Maureen Dewell said: “Joining Breeze has been life changing for me, I had a hip replacement three years ago and struggled to get back into regular exercise.

"Cycling with the husband was dispiriting and I lacked motivation, until I joined a Breeze ride. Since then I have found that cycling can be fun! Cake stops and chat are very necessary and the regular rides have helped me to train for the RideLondon 48 mile cycle in July. My next challenge is the c2c 140mile ride that Breeze Durham are organising for May 2020.”

Some of them attended a celebration event on Sunday, when they had the chance to have a go on bikes of all types and sizes –including tandems, recumbents, trikes, unicyles and ebikes.

Breeze rides are suitable for all ages and all abilities.

Next year the group is already planning a trip to Jersey, multi-day tours of Northumberland and Scotland, a ride to Tubingen and a coast to coast ride.

For more details visit www.letsride.co.uk