PEOPLE of all ages and abilities are being encouraged to saddle up to celebrate National Bike Week.

To mark the event, a fun bike ride will be held along a seven-mile stretch of the National Cycle Network route between Bewdley and Stourport on Sunday, June 19, the final day of the week, which begins on Saturday.

Worcestershire County Council is promoting the week, which is designed to boost the number of journeys made by bicycle, particularly in urban areas, where two wheels can be the quickest way of beating congestion.

Employers and schools are also being urged to try and get as many of their staff as possible to use their bikes.

The employer and school with the highest percentage of employees or students cycling in and out during the week will earn £1,000 towards the cost of buying cycling facilities.

On the day of the Wyre Forest bike ride, on route 45 of the National Cycle Network, events get under way at 9am in Bewdley's Load Street car park, where representatives of Halfords will carry out free cycle safety checks until 1pm.

The ride begins at 10am, proceeding at a leisurely pace to Stourport's sports club, before returning to Bewdley by noon.

There will be a free raffle for everyone taking part and a chance to test whether participants' pedalling is powerful enough to light a room.

The council's cabinet member for the environment, councillor John Smith, said: "We are proud to support National Bike Week and promote cycling as a sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative to the car.

"Not only will it help to reduce levels of vehicle pollution and road congestion, it can also have a positive effect on health."

Schools and employers can contact Nicky Luff on 01905 766810 for more information about the bike week.