Skipton Rotary Club’s award winning bike recycling scheme is now open to receive residents’ unwanted or broken bicycles for recycling.

Under the scheme, bikes left forgotten in garages will be refurbished and passed onto people in need in the UK and abroad.

Skipton Rotary Club will collect the unwanted bikes and arrange for them to be refurbished by the Yorkshire-based Margaret Carey Foundation, and go on to enjoy a new lease of life with a new owner.

“This scheme, which is now in its third year, has always been amazingly well supported by the people of Craven – so much so that its success has been recognised with two Rotary Environmental awards in the past year,” said Rotary president Gordon Jolly.

“This year we are also appealing for bikes in good condition to be donated to the Tour de Mart charity fundraising event, on May 18, which the club is organising to raise funds to buy and install children’s distraction walls for Airedale Hospital’s new emergency department.”

David Goldie, project leader, received several bikes in advance of the scheme’s official launch He said: “Donating a bike is a great way to help someone else and improve our area’s carbon footprint at the same time so we are hoping for another bumper year.”

Bikes or bike parts for recycling can be donated at the Rotary charity car park in the grounds of Skipton Building Society on The Bailey on Saturdays until May 10 between 10am and 2pm.

For those who are unable to transport their donation to the collection point, contact David Goldie by e-mail at david.goldie@skiptonrotary.org or by phone on (01756) 710315 to arrange collection.