BOLTON jobseekers can apply for a free bike — if not having transport is holding them back from finding work.

Hundreds of free bikes are ready to be handed over to jobseekers in Bolton and across Greater Manchester to help them start 2016 with a new career.

Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Bike Back to Work scheme has around 400 recently refurbished bicycles to help people commute to their new jobs.

A bike can be a vital alternative for jobseekers who might struggle to get to work without one because of things like shift patterns and a lack of alternative commuting options.

Eligible applicants will also receive free equipment, such as helmets and hi-vis vests, and access to free cycle training.

Bolton Council's cabinet member for transport, Cllr David Chadwick sits on the TfGM board.

He said: "I think this is a great idea, anything that helps people to get into work has to be a good thing.

"Cycling is also a good form of exercise and it is environmentally friendly so that is another bonus."

In 1981 Conservative Employment Minister Norman Tebbit was accused of directly telling unemployed people to "get on your bike," when his actual quote explained how his father "got on his bike" and looked for work.

TfGM can supply bicycles anywhere across Greater Manchester and Jobseekers can collect them from suppliers in Wigan, Trafford, Bury, Manchester, Oldham and Stockport.

Cllr Andrew Fender, chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “This is a really worthwhile scheme which could help hundreds of people in Greater Manchester get to work.

“We hope they enjoy their low-cost commute and continue to cycle for many years. It’s a great way to get around and stay fit, and helping people to travel to work by bike will benefit the local economy as well as the environment.”

People should apply for bikes directly via their JobCentre Plus or Work Programme adviser.

Anyone in Bolton who is interested in the scheme can visit visit tfgm.com/travelchoices and click on the ‘Jobseeker’ section.