A NORTH Yorkshire supermarket is asking shoppers to get on their bikes - but in the nicest possible way!

The Tesco store at Catterick Garrison is about to launch a new scheme which will mean cycling customers can get their groceries home in safety.

The store is the first Tesco in the country to run the scheme in a big way. The scheme uses a two-wheeled 'hod' which hooks up to the back of any adult bike.

People will fill in an application form and pay a fee of around £8 to join a special club. They are given a hook to keep and when they want to do some shopping, they cycle to the store, show a membership card and shop while a member of staff gets a hod which is then left at a checkout.

The hod is a waterproof bag which doubles up as a hand cart so that it can be wheeled out.

The shopper then cycles home with the groceries in tow. The hods will hold up to 60kg of goods. People have three days to return the hod and Tesco is hoping to encourage users to bring them back full of goods for recycling.

The scheme is being run in partnership with Richmondshire District Council and the Army on a green transport theme.

Tesco corporate affairs executive Mr Richard Petrie said Catterick Garrison was chosen to launch the scheme because of forward-thinking by the council and the Army in putting 12km of cycle path around the area