CHILDREN from the Ilkley area have been given the opportunity to ride a bike - thanks to a new bike library in Addingham.

The new facility - which will be run by the AWARE Airedale and Wharfedale Autism Group - is one of eight to open this month and brings the total number of libraries across Yorkshire to 31.

Based at Addingham Youth Centre, in School Lane, it will hold its next session on Saturday from 11am to 1pm.

Launched as a legacy of the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire, the project aims to give every child in in the county access to a bike.

The project - which is sponsored by Yorkshire Bank - sees unwanted bikes donated at one of the county’s 42 donation stations, where they are fixed up and available to hire free of charge.

Since the launch of the first library last year, about 3,500 bikes have been donated, providing 13,300 riding opportunities.

Helen Page, propositions and marketing director at Yorkshire Bank, said: "We are delighted to support the set-up of additional Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries across the county. Giving more children an opportunity to have access to a bike is something we feel passionately about."

The new libraries have been set up using a third round of enterprise funding. The first two rounds of funding helped existing groups to expand and attracted new volunteers who set up cycle coaching, maintenance and safety classes at their local community centres and schools.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We launched the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries with the aim of giving every child in Yorkshire access to a bike, and the opening of these new Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries will help to bring us ever closer to that goal.

“I am thrilled to see how successful the bike libraries have become since the very first one opened in Leeds last year, and I hope they will continue to inspire and excite young people across the county.”

For more information, visit bikelibraries.yorkshire.com