Volunteers have created greater opportunities for pupils to get on their bikes by fixing up school equipment.

Members of the group, which spent time training as bike mechanics under the direction of Steven Rutherford, who is cycling co-ordinator at Include Me 2 Club (IM2C), have been busy putting their new skills to good use at Barrhead High and St Luke’s High.

At the latter, they built wooden storage solutions, designed by pupils, who also helped to put these together.

They also set about fixing and maintaining bikes at the school, helped by the youngsters.

Steven told the Barrhead News: “We did a simple white paint job to make this dark and outdated space seem more inviting, along with working with the kids to repair and maintain 18 bikes the school currently has.”

Prior to helping out at St Luke’s High, Steven and his team of four volunteers spent several days gaining valuable experience repairing and maintaining a fleet of bikes for Barrhead High.

“There were probably a dozen to 15 which were quite badly damaged or we had to take two bikes and use the parts to make one,” said Steven.

“We have done a lot of classroom stuff but, with that, you are mainly dealing with things which are working, so it’s a bit different when it comes to a bike which is badly damaged and you have to follow that thought process of how to fix it.

“I’m a qualified mechanic and I check every bike but the guys did fantastically well.

“The school was absolutely delighted.”

Visiting the schools gave the team a chance to build up a relationship with the pupils while waiting for IM2C’s bike hub to open at the Barrhead charity’s new base at Cowan Park Lodge.

The facility, which is decorated externally with impressive bespoke artwork, is equipped with a state-of-the-art workshop, a training space and bikes, including electric and e-cargo bikes.

It will offer safety check and repair services, as well as selling used cycles at a low cost, with a bike loan scheme also in the pipeline.

Steven added: “We have so much happening with our bike hub, with massive plans.

“It’s the first active travel hub in East Renfrewshire we are developing and we have all sorts of programmes and all sorts of funders on board.

“We are trying to target the entire community, regardless of who they are and what their ability is.

“Bikes are a good way to burn off energy.”