ELDERLY people in Dunbar could soon get out and about and feel the wind in their hair thanks to a scheme with its roots in Denmark.

Staff at Lammermuir House Care Home are aiming to raise thousands of pounds to buy a trishaw – a three-wheeled cycle with a passenger cab.

A special fundraiser takes place on Friday (November 8) and Helen Isphahani, who works at the care home, was keen to see a trishaw in place before Christmas.

Once bought, the trishaw could be used throughout the Dunbar community.

Helen said having a trishaw would give elderly people who used to ride a bike but had not done so for years the chance to “get fresh air in their faces again”.

A representative from Cycling Without Age – a non-profit volunteer group which provides cycle pilots to take older people and care home residents out and about on trishaws – visited the care home in the summer, with a new bank account being set up to ensure the community can benefit from the trishaw.

The project was founded in Denmark in 2013 and has since spread throughout the world.

In East Lothian, the scheme already has trishaws in Musselburgh.

Dozens of communities are also fundraising to see the special trikes introduced in their areas.

The Dunbar appeal is for £7,600. The care home, on East Links Road, is hosting a fundraising ceilidh and supper on Friday.

The Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band perform at Hallhill from 7.30pm, with tickets, £15, on sale from BeGreen and the Crunchy Carrot on High Street.

Helen, who is a senior carer at Lammermuir House, said they also planned to apply to businesses for donations which would help cover the cost of the bikes.

Helen, who was joined by colleague Sandra Boag earlier this summer in walking the West Highland Way in aid of the care home, was hopeful the trishaw would be in place for the festive season.

She added: “It would be a lovely Christmas present.

“It would be fantastic if we got it before Christmas.”

Anyone interested in helping raise the funds or looking for more information should contact the care home.