Cyclists can secure their bikes to explore Cockermouth, thanks to a new initiative. 

Six bike racks have been installed on Main Street, outside Bryson’s bakery and The New Bookshop, as part of a partnership between Allerdale council and the town council. 

New maps are also being created, featuring hand-painted plans of the town centre.

The maps will appear on signage in nine locations across the town – in all six of Allerdale council’s car parks, and in three prominent wall-mounted spots.

Visitors will be able to buy printed versions of the maps for £1 from vending machines mounted on the signs, as well as from the tourist information centre.

The new maps are due to be installed before Christmas.

The funding for the two projects has been provided by Allerdale council which gives the borough’s seven towns £10,000 each to use for improvement projects.

This year, the large village of Seaton has been added to the list of towns which benefit from this funding.

Catherine Hetherington, owner of The New Bookshop, said: “We’re very pleased to see the new bike racks now installed outside our shop. They are being well used already and should prove a really useful addition to the bike riding experience in Cockermouth.”