POLICE are offering cyclists the chance to secure their bikes against thieves by buying cut-price marking equipment.

Cleveland Police are selling electronic transponders at the reduced cost of £10. They give cycles registration numbers, which identify them if stolen.

PC Jim Brown, a Langbaurgh Crime Prevention Officer, said: "The scheme is an overt marking scheme designed to inform any would-be thief that the bicycle is property-marked.

"The hidden location and difficulty of removing the transponder makes the bicycle difficult to sell on and easy to identify as stolen."

The scheme is being promoted by Bikescene, in the Old Ambulance Station, Guisborough, which has agreed that anyone buying a bicycle will be offered a free property marking kit, or a security lock worth £19.99.

An extra ten per cent discount on security locks will be offered during promotional sessions, taking place on November 23 and 30, from 6pm to 8pm