Northampton to start hire scheme like London's 'Boris Bikes'

David Mackintosh and county council leader Jim Harker at one of the bike docking station locations in Beckets Park

An urban bicycle-hire scheme will soon be coming to Northampton and it will have docking stations across the town.

Northamptonshire County Council and Northampton Borough Council are to develop a scheme on the lines of the Boris Bikes initiative in London.

Members would have a PIN code to release a bike from a docking station, returning it after their journey.

Charges will vary depending on the length of the journey.

Docking stations will include the university campus at Boughton Green Road, the railway station, the entrance to Beckets Park, the Skatepark at Midsummer Meadow, Brackmills and the new bus interchange.

Borough council leader David Mackintosh said: "Cycle-hire schemes are very popular and introducing one in Northampton will bring the healthy benefits of cycling, improve the environment for local residents as well as attracting more visitors to the town."

Work is currently being carried out to finalise the details of the scheme, including costs and the bikes will be available for hire later this year.