A mountain bike trail at Rivington and a cycle route through the Yarrow Valley are being recommended in a new report by the council.

The report by a sub-committee of the council's environment overview and scrutiny panel follows a review, began more than two years ago, and aims to encourage cycling as a leisure pursuit and to get more children cycling to school.

The report recommends the extension of the national cycle route, Sustrans Route 55, to link Chorley to similar schemes in Preston and Wigan.Sustrans, the UK's sustainable transport charity, works on travel projects to benefit health and the environment.

This includes the Cuerden Valley Cycle Route which will link Preston with Chorley and Manchester. South of Chorley, the route follows the canal.

The report also recommends a cycle path on Balshaw Lane, Euxton.

It comes at a time when the town's cycling policies are under attack from the Right to Ride Network.

Network member Michael Prescott said: "Chorley has just missed out on Cycling England's £4.8m scheme for promoting cycling. Maybe towns chosen are already making steps in the right direction.

"People want to cycle and we must work together to help them do so more safely and more often."

The report will now be forwarded to the scrutiny committee and the executive cabinet.