CYCLING charity On Your Bike is set to see an influx of second-hand cycles as part of a new recycling project.

The household waste collection contractor for Somerset Council, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK have been working with Somerset schools and a county-based artist to redesign a storage container which is set to house second-hand bikes for the charity.

Schools were invited to take part in the competition working around the themes of reuse and recycling. The winners received book tokens, and their artwork was used as inspiration by the local artist Sam Gaden.

Sam runs a small business, Aerosol Art, and inspired by the children's designs, has developed a new mural that now decorates the large container at the contractor’s Bridgwater depot.

Bicycles collected through the bulky waste collection service will be stored in the newly refreshed container before being donated to On Your Bike where they have a chance of a second life.

Duncan Bawler, On Your Bike supervisor for the Bridgwater store said: “The relationship between Somerset Council, SUEZ and On Your Bike is fantastic as it just makes it easier for the unrequired bicycles to be reused by On Your Bike than recycled.

“The Bicycles we receive via donations are then used not only as training tools on our Earn A Bike courses but also refurbished and made available for members of our local community to purchase as viable options for active travel and leisure/recreational use.

“Big thank you to both parties for making this happen.”

Established in Wellington in 2010, On Your Bike works to train and support those who have suffered social exclusion, have physical disabilities and mental health problems, as well as ex-service personnel, ex-offenders, homeless and long-term unemployed.

The charity work with these individuals to refurbish unwanted bicycles – donated or rescued from landfill – which are then sold in shops.