Thousands of youngsters across Worcestershire will be able to receive cycle training, thanks to a grant of £80,000, it was announced today.

Worcestershire County Council said it will help create more training programmes to keep schoolchildren safe on the roads.

The council has been awarded a Bikeability grant, which has been awarded by Cycling England, on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Officials said they were “delighted” by the grant and that the money would be used to offer Level Two training to children in schools in the Wyre Forest district and elsewhere across the county. Youngsters aged between nine and 13-years-old will benefit from the scheme.

The money will be used for training schemes to improve their skills, confidence and safety on bicycles.

Training schemes are expected to be started later this year and next year and will be designed to complement those already taking place in schools which have already proved very successful.

Officials also see the grant as enabling more youngsters to take advantage of the Safer Routes to School schemes introduced around the county which encourage pupils to cycle or walk to school.