A STUDY into the affect of more people taking advantage of cycling in Darlington's pedestrian town centre has shown no increase in accidents or injuries.

Statistics requested by councillors have shown no injuries or collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians despite an increase in cycling.

Cycling through the town's Pedestrian Heart was sanctioned earlier this year more than four years after it was proposed.

Full support was given for the proposals as the result of a successful trial period, although council officers promised to monitor the situation.

A report, which will go to a meeting of the council's economy and environment scrutiny group on Thursday morning includes statistics for the first four months of the year.

From January to March, the police have recorded no incidents involving cyclists within the town centre area.

They have recorded just two separate incidents in the same area involving pedestrians.

In one incident on Victoria Road, two people stepped in front of a car. The second time, in Tubwell Row, a bus hit a pedestrian. Both resulted in minor injuries.

From January to April, only one email has been sent to either the police or council complaining about cycling in the town centre.

Officers have also conducted survey counts to record the levels of cyclists and pedestrians using the town centre.

In January, there were 22% more cyclists than the same month in 2008. The figures for April showed a 37% increase on the previous year. There were 1,216 cyclists recorded during April 2009.

Figures for pedestrians show the figures have remained constant with a slight increase in April 2009.

The council report added: "The data that has been collected appears to show that cycling level are continuing to increase into the town centre whilst accidents do not appear to be increasing."

A code of conduct for cyclists has also been drawn up. Copies of the code were handed out, along with safety equipment including lights, bells and high-visibility vests, at an information event in February.

Cycling groups have already welcomed the council support for cycling to be legal in the town centre and the measures introduced.

However, there has been some opposition who wanted cyclists to wake their bikes through the pedestrianised areas.