A new initiative aims to recycle those unwanted cycles.

Under the scheme, bikes left forgotten in the corners of garages will be refurbished and passed on to those in need in the UK and around the world.

Skipton Rotary Club will launch the new environmental bike recycling initiative this month.

Working alongside Yorkshire-based charity the Margaret Carey Foundation, members of Skipton Rotary Club will collect unwanted bikes or bike parts which the foundation will refurbish.

David Goldie, project leader, said: “Donating a bike is a great way to help someone else and our carbon footprint at the same time. We’re hoping that local people who have an old bike or bike parts hanging around in the garage will donate them so that they can be recycled to enjoy a new lease of life.”

Support for the initiative is growing, said Mr Goldie.

“We’ve been amazed at how interested people have been in the idea. We’re really grateful to the four organisations who have come forward to provide temporary recycling areas. It gives us good bases in and around Skipton, which should make it much easier for people to make their donation.”

Mr Goldie added: “There’s an added incentive for anyone who donates a bike at Embsay Station on the morning of March 10, because they will receive a complimentary family travel ticket, courtesy of the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.”

Bill Barron, property services manager at Skipton Building Society, said: “We are delighted to support this new local recycling scheme – although we are involved in many environmental projects, this is an interesting project which fits in perfectly with our green agenda.”

Four temporary bike recycling depots will operate in and around Skipton between next Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 18.

Unwanted bikes can be taken to the Rotary charity car park at Skipton Building Society on Saturday, March 10, and Saturday, March 17, between 10am and 2pm; Yorwaste’s Skibeden site, during normal opening hours for the week of March 10 to 18; the Pride Of The Dales Garage, Station Road, Grassington, for the week March 10 to 17, between 10am and 2pm; and to Embsay Station, Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway on Saturday, March 10, between 10am and noon.

The project is supported by Skipton Building Society, Yorwaste, Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Pride Of The Dales and the Craven Herald.