COUNCIL staff are ditching their cars next week in a bid to encourage people to get on their bikes.

To kick off National Bike Week, 10 staff from West Wiltshire District Council plan to ride 26 miles through the Wiltshire countryside on Monday.

Throughout the week teams of cyclists are taking part in organised trips including rides to Stonehenge and Salisbury.

Bill Prendergast, Wiltshire County Council's Travelwise manager, hopes to clock up over 250 miles during the week.

He said: "Encouraging people to switch from car to bike has significant environmental benefits, by cutting pollution and congestion."

"Wiltshire is a beautiful place to cycle and we hope to make people aware that they can ditch their cars and enjoy the countryside."

The council staff will be setting off from Trowbridge County Hall at 9.45am and hope to reach Larkhill by the afternoon.

Bike Week, which includes Bike2Work Week, is a national campaign to promote cycling.

For information on taking part in bike rides during the week call Travelwise on (01225) 713388.