MOUNTAIN bikes will be loaned to schools in north Essex in a bid to get pupils interested in sport.

NHS North East Essex has invested more than £44,000 to tackle obesity and physical inactivity and get youngsters out on their bikes.

The scheme, which includes trained instructors for after-school sessions, was piloted in five schools and will be rolled out across the area.

Dan Blyth, 14, and Charlie Adams, 13, both of Thurstable School Sports College and Sixth Form Centre in Tiptree, were so impressed with the course they now cycle to school every day.

Dan said: “I’ve been into cycling for a while, but I bought a second hand bike about three months ago.

“I do fishing and shooting but they’re outside school so it’s nice to do this in school.”

Charlie added: “I don’t really do much other sport, apart from sailing, so cycling is fun.

“The course was really good fun because we did lessons each week and we went cycling in the woods as well.”

The mountain bikes are transported by trailer so each school can have a go.

Chris French, senior public health specialist at NHS North East Essex, said the pilot project also included Sir Charles Lucas Arts College, St Benedict’s Catholic College and Philip Morant School in Colchester, and Ramsden Hall School in Stanway.

He said: “Obesity and physical inactivity among younger people is a major issue we have to tackle and mountain-biking has proved a very popular after-school activity with the youngsters.

“Part of the aim of the project is to encourage younger people to take up biking as a more regular activity.

“In the pilot project, we’ve had a number of cases of youngsters opting to cycle to school after getting a taste for it in the after-school activities.”

The bikes are the latest in a string of health intervention measures introduced by NHS North East Essex in recent months.

They include offering £100 of East of England Co-op vouchers to stop pregnant woman smoking and forking out £78,000 for 68 rowing machines in schools.