Have you got an unwanted bike to donate?

The 1st Bourne Scouts group is asking people to donate old unwanted bikes which they can sell to fund a trip to the First World War battlefields.

Prisoners at HMP North Sea camp, an open prison near Freiston, will repair the bikes so the scouts can sell them.

The proceeds will go towards funding a district scouts group trip to Belgium during the October half term holiday.

Greg Cejer, 1st Bourne Scouts leader, said: “We’re collecting bikes that people don’t want. Their condition is not that important, we’ll even take wrecks.

“The prisoners will do them up, or cannibalise any that are beyond repair to use for spare parts, and we will try to sell the bikes to raise money.”

He added: “I am sure that in various sheds and garages around Bourne and Stamford, there are some mountain or other bikes, which have been outgrown or just left unused.

“Please check to see if you have any unwanted bikes, and consider donating them to us.”

The Stamford and Bourne District Scouts made a similar appeal for bikes about four years ago.

The bikes repaired then by the prisoners are still being used at the annual scout camp, at the Shacklewell Hollow base between Stamford and Oakham and on other occasions.

A total of 66 scouts are due to go on the Belgium trip and money is being raised to subsidise the £535 costs per person.

The scouts are also running or entering fundraising events such as table top sales, a fun run, and bag packing.

During their trip, they will lay a wreath at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, and visit museums and battlefield sites.

To donate a bike and arrange for it to be collected, phone 07429 617440 or email greggthebuilder@tiscali.co.uk.