CONVICTED criminals in the Pennine Division are helping youth and community groups by repairing lost or stolen bicycles.

The scheme, a partnership between the Police and the Probation Service's Community Service department, ensures that unclaimed bikes are not left to rust away.

Forty bicycles have been restored by supervised offenders as part of the hours of unpaid work they were sentenced to do by the courts.

The repaired cycles are being distributed among a range of different organisations including the Youth and Community Service and BRASS -- which works with asylum seekers in Burnley and Pendle.

PC Karen Fitzpatrick said: "We give people every opportunity to reclaim lost or stolen property and if it isn't claimed then it goes into storage. However we can't store things forever, especially bulky items.

"In the past we have auctioned them but since we are coming up to Christmas we decided that this time we would give them away to deserving local organisations."

Probation community service manager Geraldine Martin said: "Offenders on community service are supervised on a range of projects to benefit communities.

"This is very worthwhile work for offenders.

"They serve their sentence and at the same time get a chance to learn skills which can promote their employability and help other people."

Picture: From the left, back, PC Karen Fitzpatrick, Sally Thomas (United Reformed Church minister and BRASS member), Mohammed Riaz (Youth and Community Service), Supt Gary Stephenson, Geraldine Martin (Probation Service), front, Jon and Pavel Demeter