Maidenhead & Windsor

The Maidenhead Royal Borough's first summer holiday cycle training scheme for 11-14-year-olds gets on the road next week.

Ten trainees are booked on to the four-day course, which takes place at Kidwells Park, Maidenhead:

* 10am – 12 noon Tuesday August 29
* 10am – 12 noon Wednesday August 30
* 1- 3pm Thursday August 31
* 10am – 12 noon Friday September 1

Certificates and proficiency badges will be presented to the successful trainees at the end of the final session on Friday September 1.

Philippa Baxter, Maidenhead road safety officer, said: "Up to 30 schools take part in our cycle training during the school year but there are still many children who begin secondary school without any proper training and want to cycle to school. We are hoping to reach some of these youngsters through the holiday training scheme and, with ten signed up, we have another ten on the waiting list. In fact, places were snapped up within two days of being advertised so the demand is there.

"We are using this as a pilot and if it is successful we aim to extend training courses to include Christmas and Easter too."

The course teaches cyclists the basic rules of the road, improves control and co-ordination, and helps trainees develop awareness of potential hazards and how to deal with them safely.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead