Wiltshire Council is encouraging people to get back on their bikes with a special free cycle training offer.

The council runs cycle training for children at most schools and is now trying to encourage adults to brush up on their riding skills.

Three levels of Bikeability training are available with one-to-one Level 3 focusing on busy roads and real traffic conditions costing around £25 an hour but the council is offering an hour for free for the first 50 people to sign up.

Training can give you the confidence to cycle to work, the shops or to cycle to school with your children.

Levels 1 and 2 concentrate on traffic-free environments and quiet roads and if enough people, adults and children aged 16-18, sign up some group sessions could be provided.

The contact form can be found at www.connectingwiltshire.co.uk/training

Horace Prickett, portfolio holder for transport, said: "Cycling is a great way to get around and a healthy alternative to using the car. It is also a fantastic way to keep fit and with the waist lines of the nation expanding a good way to tackle this"

"We are keen to promote green transport to improve the environment for everyone in Wiltshire by reducing congestion and pollution.

"But safety is paramount and these courses will give people the skills they need to enjoy our beautiful surroundings while remaining safe."

New cycle parking has been installed at Westbury, Salisbury, Bradford on Avon and Great Bedywn train stations and improvements are being carried out to cycle routes in Bradford on Avon, Chippenham, Warminster and Trowbridge. Cycle maps are available at tourist information centres and libraries.

The latest information about all these routes can be found on the connecting Wiltshire website.