A project to get more Sidmouth residents on their bikes and investigate potential new routes and the costs involved has been given a £1,300 boost.

Sid Valley Links, a new group made up of a wide range of community organisations, has teamed up with the Otter Trail Group to tackle cycling issues in and around the town.

The latter commissioned cycling charity Sustrans to conduct a survey, which can now press ahead after county councillor Stuart Hughes met a funding shortfall from his locality budget.

The project has also been supported by the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cllr Hughes, Devon’s highways champion, said: “Work has already begun around Ottery St Mary and towards Feniton and at Sidmouth we have the toucan crossing on the A375 leading to Long Park and The Byes.

“I’m now looking forward to sitting down with other members of the group to see how we can proceed and how we can raise some of the funding required.”