DISCARDED mountain bikes are being reconditioned and brought back to use to help young people get out and about in East Lothian.

The county’s health and social care partnership has joined up with the council’s aftercare team to source disused bicycles which can be brought into use for young people.

The aftercare team support care experienced people aged between 16 and 25 and were keen to find bikes for those who could use them for their daily exercise during the Covid-19 lockdown.

They have so far reconditioned a dozen mountain bikes, which have been handed over for reuse. The bikes will help young people exercise and travel for shopping without having to use public transport.

The health and social care partnership said they hoped the bikes would help promote better physical and mental wellbeing for many of the young people in  tenancies or emergency accommodation.

Davie Rutherford, community payback team leader with the justice social work service, and his colleague Owen McAlpine began the search for the bikes, with Owen, who is a qualified bike mechanic, ensuring they were fit for use before handing them over.

The project started with three bikes found by the pair, with a further nine donated by colleagues.

One support worker with the 15+ Team welcomed the project, saying: “It has made a real difference to the young people.”