Safer neighbourhood officers have donated 30 unclaimed stolen bikes to Heatham House’s cycle club scheme.

St Margarets and North Twickenham safer Neighbourhoods (SNT) team are donating the bikes after being unable to find the previous owners.

The bikes are in various states of repair, so club members will not only be able to ride them, but also learn the skills required to repair and maintain them.

PC Jo-Anne Hood from St Margarets SNT, said: “The program is based on the sense of involvement and satisfaction in a very inclusive and hands-on manner.

"It will motivate the most disadvantaged young people to get on their bikes, to keep healthy and to eventually get more involved in an exciting and diverse community project.”

Heatham House will offer a six-week bicycle mechanics course, where members can gain a good understanding of how a bike works, they will learn how to recognise a range of mechanical problems with a bike and be confident in resolving them.

At the end of the course they will receive a certificate of general bicycle skills and maintenance, the bicycle mechanic certificate.