Dozens of disused bicycles from RAF Wittering have been donated to the My Bike project to be recycled by inmates at HMP Stocken.

Royal Air Force personnel often keep a bicycle at work, they are a quick and environmentally-friendly way of getting around a station. As people move on to new stations, or retire from the RAF, their bikes are sometimes left behind.

Over the years, RAF Wittering near Stamford, has accumulated a number of rusty mountain bikes, racers and hybrids.

And on Tuesday (1 Oct) morning, Stephen Turville and Ray Goodliffe, instructional officers at HMP Stocken, collected dozens of old and rusted frames from the station to be used in the prison's My Bike project.

The project is a joint initiative between HMP Stocken and Rutland County Council and gives restored bikes free of charge to individuals and families in Rutland, as well as to charities and hospices across the country.

The collection was arranged by Diane Coates, Executive Officer of Support Wing, who heard about the project on Rutland Radio.

HMP Stocken inmates involved in the recycling study for a recognised City & Guilds qualification in cycle mechanics.

Once allocated to an inmate the bicycles are cleaned, completely stripped down and the components checked to make sure they are still safe to use.

Ray Goodliffe said: "The inmates seem to thoroughly enjoy it because they are giving something back to charity. Some of them have actually gone on to work at bike shops like Halford's."

Once restored, most of the frames collected from RAF Wittering will be given to Rutland County Council and distributed to disadvantaged individuals and families.

Wing Commander Dan Penter, Principal Engineer at RAF Wittering, said: "Diane has done really well to arrange this, it works on so many levels.

"We are putting old bicycles to good use, the inmates at HMP Stocken are working towards a recognised qualification and people in need are getting the benefits.

"This is a very good community project and we're happy to help."