Abandoned bikes left at Crewe station have been given a new lease of life after Avanti West Coast partnered with a local business to ensure they were put to good use.

The cycles have been donated to Community Recycle Cycles – a local not for profit bike repair shop which enlists volunteers to repurpose unwanted bicycles to be sold in the community.

Giving the bikes to help a good cause was the idea of Customer Service Assistant Danny Pope and Team Leader Mark Litton, who are based at the station.

With unwanted cycles taking up space in the bike racks, and many of them in good condition, Danny and Mark were keen to dispose of them responsibly, making sure they could be utilised by the community.

They approached Community Recycle Cycles, offering the bikes to support the company's work.

Community Recycle Cycles take in donations of bikes to their shop, where volunteers aged 14 - 79 (including three young adults with learning disabilities, and some with physical disabilities or mental health conditions) repair and refurbish them for resale.

They also provide a repair service to keep the local community cycling safely.

Income generated through their work is used to support volunteers with training opportunities – including mental health awareness, management training and Cytech, an internationally recognised accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians.

Speaking on why he decided to give the abandoned bikes a new home, Danny said: "With unwanted bikes that were in good condition taking up space in the cycle racks, I was keen to find a suitable use for them.

"Working with my colleagues we have been able to donate the bikes to Community Recycle Cycles, who can give them a new lease of life.

"It is great the bikes can be repaired or recycled and we're really proud to be supporting this fantastic initiative.

"It is making a difference in the local community by giving people in Crewe opportunities – whether it is new skills, training, education, or employment, which is something we're committed to championing at Avanti West Coast."

Annette Cormack, Director of Community Recycle Cycles, said: "As a not for profit business, we are totally reliant on donations and the expense goes into restoring the bikes, replacing parts if needed but keeping the prices affordable.

"Most of our donations come from individuals but having donors such as Avanti West Coast can really help in both the numbers of bikes we receive and having the backing of a high-profile company in the area.

"During the lockdowns, one of the challenges has been getting hold of parts that come from abroad.

"We have been able to keep providing our service as we are able to use parts from bikes that are not suitable for restoration. This means that bikes in any condition are always very welcome."