A Gargrave cycling club which began with just three members more than a decade ago has been awarded an Awards For All Grant to aid its expansion.

Gargrave Tuesday Club started in 1990 when three recently retired people decided to meet each week with a view to enjoying the countryside

When others realised what pleasure and heights of fitness the trio were deriving from this new pastime, several joined from the surrounding area and the membership is now in excess of 50, with 95 per cent of them pensioners and an age range of 55 to 73. While the group is still called the Tuesday Club, a smaller group meets on a Thursday at the Dalesman Caf, in Gargrave.

The principle aim is to promote outdoor activities and social camaraderie for retired people.

In recent months, members have hosted visitors from Australia, the USA and club president, 73-year-old Bill Norton, led a group from Holland on a tour of North Yorkshire.

While Gargrave provides the ideal meeting place and provides a 30 mile radius of countryside for cycling, it does have its geographic limitations.

The Awards For All Grant of £3,408 is to be used by the group to hire vehicles so members can travel further afield with their bicycles.

A survey indicated that membership would increase and members would become more active if low or even no cost transport was available to access new and less demanding countryside.

Anyone wanting to join the group can go along to the Dalesman Caf on Tuesdays at 10am and Thursdays at 10.30. There are usually two groups known as A and B.

The A group is for serious and energetic members, the B for the equally serious, but not quite so energetic.