CHILDREN in Okehampton will have the chance to get on their bikes and improve their cycling skills during the summer holidays.

Bikeability is cycle proficiency for the 21st Century and Devon County Council is funding training in the county, helping children to gain the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today's roads. Courses will be available from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, September 1.

The training is divided into different levels: level 1 for children aged six and over to help them develop their basic bicycle handling skills with exercises and fun games in a traffic free environment, level 2 for children aged nine and over to develop cycling skills in a traffic-free environment before progressing on quiet local roads with real traffic conditions, and level 3, advanced cycling for children for children aged 11 and over who have already completed

level 2.

Okehampton Station will host Level 3 training on August 14. For more information on dates, times and locations, or to book a course, visit http://www.cycledevon.info">www.cycledevon.info

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways, said: 'Devon County Council has helped more than 20,000 schoolchildren to receive Bikeability training, and I'm delighted that there will be opportunity for more to take part during the summer holidays.'

Children do not need to be pupils at the schools hosting the training. Although there is a small charge for level 1 training, levels 2 and 3 are provided free of charge by the county council.