PENSIONERS in and around Peebles will soon be freewheeling around town after a pioneering pedal group took delivery of its first special bike this week.

Cycling Without Age Peebles was formed last year with a view to purchasing electric-assisted three-wheeled trishaws for transporting the area's elderly.

Fundraising has been ongoing since the end of last year.

But a significant boost arrived with the full cost of the first trishaw being offered by investment firm Baillie Gifford.

The vehicles will be able to carry two passengers in comfort and safety.

A delighted group of volunteers were on hand this week to receive the vehicle and get to grips with its distinctive handling and unique design.

Steering group leader Jo Cunliffe told us: "Like a lot of people, I was inspired by seeing Fraser Johnson from the Falkirk project featured on TV, winning awards for his voluntary work.

"This led to a few conversations with other interested people and the idea for bringing the project to Peebles."

Cycling Without Age was established in 2012 in Copenhagen and is now represented in 37 countries worldwide.

Over 50,000 people have been on rides since the first pedals were pushed.

Cycling Without Age in Scotland was established in 2016 and gained widespread recognition thanks to a BBC3 Amazing Humans short film, featuring young pilot Fraser Johnson.

The first Peebles trishaw has been named after the late Grace Aitchison.

Having lived most of her life in Biggar and brought up her four children she moved to to Riverside sheltered housing in Peebles just after her 90th birthday ceilidh.

She attended the RVS club in Innerleithen three days a week and enjoyed travelling in whatever was available to get her out and about - bus, car, plane, bike or train.

And it was a conversation between Jo and Grace which helped push the Peebles project towards fruition.

Jo added: "I had been taking Grace out for tea once a week and remarked at how much someone like her would love the freedom the project could bring.

"When she died the night after we had that conversation, it seemed fitting to push on with the project and dedicate our first bike to her."

The new Peebles trishaw has been named Amazing Grace in honour of the 96-year-old who died last year.

Grace's daughter Catherine Gordon said: "She loved being out and about and often scared us in her 80s by saying she wanted to buy an electric bike to get her from Biggar to Peebles and Lanark to visit us - she never learned to drive.

"She never thought she was that important due to quite a hard childhood and to know something special was named after her would, I am sure, have been pretty emotional.

"Her children and grandchildren will find it emotional too, so when Amazing Grace goes whizzing up the High Street and there is someone wiping away a tear or two just ignore them please.”

The Cycling Without Age Peebles steering group will now direct their own fundraising towards a second trishaw.

Over £2,000 has already been raised through fundraising and donations from individuals, groups and local businesses, including Cardrona Brownies, The Super Store, Tweedlove, Ridelines and bSpoke Cycles.

The group is also working closely with SBC’s Community Capacity Building team, Eildon Housing and other outreach and social care partners.

Amazing Grace will be stored at the Riverside housing complex.

Nile Istephan, chief executive of Eildon Housing Association, added: “This is a marvellous opportunity for our tenants at Riverside House and for local elderly people to get out in the community and have the chance to enjoy the Borders’ fresh air.

"It has the advantage of bringing generations closer together using the special trishaws.

"Eildon Housing Association is delighted that we can help out with this fabulous project by offering safe storage for the first trishaw Amazing Grace and we wish the project every success going forward.”

Cycling Without Age Peebles has already trained up five pilots and hopes to start recruiting more volunteers in the coming weeks.

To volunteer with the project or help with the fundraising for a second trishaw, contact Cycling Without Age Peebles at The Bridge on School Brae.

A spokeswoman for the project said: "Cycling experience is certainly not necessary, but rather an interest in building relationships and enjoying the experience.

"We are also looking for co-pilots - befrienders - to accompany seniors on the bike, and drivers to collect passengers from more remote areas and bring them to the meeting point.

"All volunteers will go through an application process and go through a PVG check."