HOSPITAL staff are being encouraged to cycle to work under a new scheme to reduce the cost of buying a bike and save on income tax.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has signed up to the Government’s Cycle to Work initiative, offering employees the chance to pay for a reduced-price bicycle through 12 months of pre-tax salary deduc-tions.

Those who sign up will then pay income tax and National Insurance only on the remainder of their salary, after their bicycle contributions have been deducted.

After 12 months of contributions under an initial hire agreement, staff can either give back their bikes, or pay a lump sum to keep their bicycle forever.

Nigel Barnes, 45, staff nurse in the critical care unit at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, has been a keen cyclist since childhood and is a member of Blackburn and District Mountain Bike Club.

He cycles to work every day from his home in Lower Darwen.

He said: “I’ve been looking at getting a new bike so I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the scheme.

“Cycling is a great way to get fit and help the environment, so I hope the offer will encourage more people to take it up.”

Strategic planning officer John Dell leads the trust’s scheme.

He said: “We have a green travel plan and are always keen to encourage our staff to cut their carbon emiss-ions.

“Not only does cycling to work help the environ-ment, it also helps keep them fit and healthy.

“With this scheme, they can save money too.”

To find out more about the initiative, visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk