Douglas Council is offering staff the chance to sign up to a cycle-to-work scheme.

The local authority will fund the purchase of cycling equipment costing up to £1,600 for a council employee as an up-front, interest-free loan, to be repaid within three years.

Around 400 central government employees have signed up to the scheme, which was introduced in February 2017.

Last year it was extended to include electricity-powered bicycles.

The initiative was not taken up by the town council at first, but officers now believe it can be implemented ’at no real cost’ to the local authority.

The council’s executive committee voted to introduce the scheme at the start of the current financial year.

However, councillors have specified that any items bought under the scheme must be sourced from bicycle shops in the capital.