The Prime Minister has pledged to consider with an “enthusiastic eye” a just-published House of Commons inquiry into cycling which would see the appointment of a national Cycling Champion.

David Cameron made his remarks on a visit to Hope Technology in Barnoldswick, an award-winning cycle-part manufacturer, designer and tester.

The report Get Britain Cycling makes 18 recommendations, including a call for an annual cycling budget equivalent to £10 a head of the population, setting up 20mph zones and cycle routes alongside trunk roads and motorway corridors.

Mr Cameron said: “We’re going to study this report very closely and meet Sir Chris Hoy to look at what we can do.

“There is a huge clamour for cycling – it’s a growth industry – and I will be looking with an enthusiastic eye to see what we can do.”

Mr Cameron met Hope Technology’s co-founder Ian Weatherill, who showed him around the company which was named Outstanding Business of the Year at business awards in Pendle.

Mr Weatherill said Mr Cameron showed a keen interest in the combination of cycling and manufacturing.

“He didn’t make a commitment to the Get Britain Cycling report but he promised to look closely at it. With more backing from the Government, I can see it quadrupling in the county,” he added.

“Cycling is a ‘hot product’, with steady growth over the past 25 years, and there is now a chance for even more growth especially with commitment from the Government.

“I’m a believer that we should manufacture more in the UK. Ten years ago people were saying that everything should be made in China but we kept all our staff and continued to support manufacturing here.

“Now things are coming back to the UK. Why was manufacturing taken there in the first place? We can produce things here and have the skills and staff to do it,” he added.