YOUNG people in rural Hambleton and Richmondshire are being encouraged to get on bikes of a different sort to find and hold down jobs.

Hambleton councillors will be recommended on Tuesday to give up to £1,500 towards the cost of a pilot scheme called Wheels 2 Work, under which 50cc mopeds would be leased to people aged between 16 and 25 for better access to employment opportunities, training and job searches.

The experimental 12-month scheme, based on a project which has been running successfully in Shropshire for five years, is being promoted by the Hambleton and Richmondshire rural transport partnership, which would deal with clients referred to it by the employment service, training agencies and the YMCA.

The partnership would initially buy 12 mopeds, which would be restricted to 30mph and could be ridden by 16-year-olds with provisional licences and L plates.

All those taking part would undergo a basic motorcycle proficiency course, funded by the scheme, and would be responsible for the upkeep and security of their machines.

The partnership is seeking capital funding of £18,000 from various sources, including the two district councils, the county council and North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council, to buy the mopeds. The Countryside Agency will meet 75pc of other costs involved in running the project.

Richmondshire council has agreed to contribute £1,500, and Hambleton economic development sub-committee will be asked on Tuesday to recommend the policy committee to give a similar sum.

Hambleton economic development officer, Mr Peter Lakey, said Wheels 2 Work was potentially a worthwhile scheme which was in line with government thinking and had broad support from other local agencies.

It was designed to raise the self-esteem of young people by broadening their horizons and improving their mobility.

It would help to reduce pressure on the young to move away to find jobs and would give them access to more opportunities than could reasonably be reached by public transport.