Young people with special educational needs are learning how to become bicycle mechanics thanks to a special scheme.

The Clarendon School cycle scheme, titled Bespoke Be Heard, was originally set up in September 2010 to teach young people with learning difficulties how to work on bicycles, but has since expanded to train young people from mainstream schools for a vocational qualification.

The idea for the scheme formed when a young man with learning difficulties faced problems at school, with his family and society and was in danger of becoming Neet (not in education, employment or training).

The scheme, an accessible vocational qualification, was then set up to open doors into employment for young people with special educational needs.

While on the course, participants learn how to maintain and service bicycles by learning on the fleet of school bicycles while being accredited with AQA unit awards in cycle mechanics.

Bicycle mechanic and tutor Laurence Balcombe oversees students as they progress through the course.

Former student Declan Lynch said: "The bike course has helped me very much in helping me to concentrate in class and I also used it in my application to college.

"Mr Balcombe is a very calm man, he was always clear in his demonstrations and his knowledge of bikes was huge so it was great to learn from him."

The scheme has received a number of compliments, including from Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who said the initiative produced "tremendous work" to highlight the benefits of cycling.