COMMONWEALTH athletes from Gambia are shopping in Preston for their equipment and have been put on track by an Ashton sports suppliers at cost price.

Robert Waterhouse, the shop manager at Ribble Cycles, Watery Lane, was visited by the Gambian cycle team last Friday.

The international athletes were in the market for new bicycles as theirs were nearly a decade old.

The shop supplies specialist equipment to athletes and provided the Gambians with a package of sportswear and bicycles.

Robert Waterhouse said: "The bikes were custom made. We supplied them with the Ribble Racing Frame and built it up from there. We charged them £800 each which is cost price.

Gambian cycling champion Eliman Jammeh and team-mate Mamudou Bah are making their first trip to the Commonwealth Games and their heavy bikes were not suitable for the road race event, according to Charles Jackson, volunteer co-ordinator for the Gambian team.

Charles, of Clayton-le-Woods near Preston, said: "I know the shop well as I'm a keen cyclist myself. We needed to get some new equipment for the road race as the Gambian bicycles were hand-me-downs. I'm sure the team are pleased and this will help them to give it their best shot."

Their plight contrasts with Chorley cyclist and Olympic medal winner Jason Queally who will be competing on his bike that's worth thousands in the 1km track time trial race at Manchester Velodrome on Sunday, July 28, at 6pm and the Olympic sprint on Friday, August 2.

Chris Murray, Jason's agent, said: "Jason is looking forward to the friendly Games. The kind offer from Ribble Cycles highlights the financial differences between countries and Jason hopes that he will have the opportunity to help athletes from the developing nations."

The road race will take place on Saturday August 3 at 1pm opposite Blackrod School in Rivvington. The race is 16 laps of a 11.7km track and the English team includes cyclists Jeremy Hunt, John Tanner and Mark Lovatt.