A PIONEERING scheme has left council workers with no excuses for not doing their bit for the environment.

As part of a determined effort to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home, North Yorkshire County Council staff have been given access to a folding bike small enough to carry on a train, bus or even in the boot of a taxi.

The scheme was the brainchild of travel awareness officer Geoff Gardner, who has already used the bike several times to visit colleagues in Fulford, York.

He said: "Most train companies require you to pre-book bikes because of the limited space on board for carrying them. With this bike, you don't need to worry, as it's so small when folded down.

"It's very compact and easy to handle and takes just seconds to adjust back to full size. We hope staff will take advantage of this free facility.

"We want to encourage a reduction in the use of private cars to travel to places that can be easily accessed by other means.

"The benefits are clear- less time spent in traffic jams and trying to find a parking space, no car parking fees, less damage to the environment and the opportunity to get fitter."