AN Ayr based travel charity has been helping local cyclists, both young and old, get on their bikes.

The Ayr Active Travel Hub, which is a South Ayrshire Council led project delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All, has been busy over the last six months offering cyclists a chance to get their bikes fixed and to be taught about how to keep their bikes in great condition - all for free.

The group’s members have already visited primary schools in Wallacetown, Girvan, Dalmellington and Newton, and will be hosting another free ‘adopt a bike’ session this Saturday, July 30 at Newton Primary School between 12noon and 3pm.

Amy Bissett from the Ayr Active Travel Hub, told the Advertiser: “This Saturday we will run our regular ‘adopt a bike session.

“We run it every month. It’s a free bike check up where people get their bike safety checked.

“Since we don’t have access to a permanent premises any more, we decided to take the sessions on tour and round different community events around Ayr.

“We’ve been at community centres, we’ve been at Newton Primary, and we’ll be back at Newton Primary for a community fun day.

“We’re going to be at Dundonald Games on August 6 and we’re back at Ayr Whitletts Activity Centre on August 10.

“Those whose bikes we’ve fixed have been reporting some really nice stories now that they can cycle back to work.”

Social media users have been praising the group online.

One said: “Thank you very much for fixing my daughter’s bike today. She hadn’t been on it for along time and is a very happy girl now, much appreciated. Great work you guys do.”, while another said “Thanks for fixing my wee boys bike tonight at Newton Primary, much appreciated.”