Work scheme gets wheels in motion

The scooters are being leased for £2.50 a week

Young people in a former Ayrshire mining town are hiring scooters to "get on their bikes" to find a job.

The scooters are being leased for £2.50 a week under the Wheels to Work programme, which allows them to travel further afield and study at colleges.

The areas around the town of Cumnock suffer from poor public transport.

Last year, a report revealed three-quarters of people out of work had not applied for a job because of difficulties getting there.

The new programme is available for people between the ages of l6 and 25 and scooters can be leased for nine months.

At the end of the lease period payments are refunded to allow the cash to be used for the person's own transport.

So far, 10 bikes are on the road and it is hoped this will rise to 30.