THERE is practical help on offer to youngsters who want to cycle to school.

AS well as courses over the half-term holiday on how to cycle safely on the roads, Bexley Council has teamed up with three cycle shops in the borough to provide safety checks and a service for junior bikes used on the school run.

The Bexley Bike Safety Service, will run until March 31, and the shops involved will offer a safety check and service for just £20 instead of the usual £46, including a free rear cycle light.

Councillor Val Clark, who chairs Bexley’s road safety consultative committee, said: “We are trying to encourage more young people to travel to and from school on bicycles for a variety of reasons, such as fitness, reducing pollution and reducing congestion around schools.”

She said the council has been offering free cycling courses to children for a number of years, to enable them to ride safely and confidently on the road.

Cllr Clark added: “This latest initiative by some of the borough’s cycle shops, will really complement our training, as young cyclists will be able to have their bicycles checked and adjusted correctly for them by qualified technicians at a bargain price.”

The shops taking part in the scheme are Bexley Bikes in Bexleyheath Broadway (020 8304 6596), Sidcup Cycle Centre in Station Road, Sidcup (020 8300 8113) and Wheelies in Bexley Road, Northumberland Heath (01322 338625).

Just call one of the shops to arrange an appointment.

Each shop reserves the right to refuse bikes not suitable under the scheme.

Meanwhile the latest cycle training courses on offer take place during half term week from February 16 to February 20.

The free courses are open to any child aged over 10 who lives or goes to school in the borough, and consists of two hours a day for five days.

The on and off-road training will take the cyclists’ proficiency to national standard level two.

Children must attend every session to complete the course and must have a roadworthy bike and an approved cycle helmet.

Places have to be pre-booked.

For details of locations and times of the courses, call the road safety unit on 020 8308 7753 or email roadsafetyeducation@bexley.gov.uk