Electric bicycles that make it easier to ride up hills will be made available for hire in around a dozen areas following award of a Government grant.

Winners of a £700,000 fund were named on Monday in areas including Rotherham, the Isle of Wight and Eastbourne.

“Electric bikes are a great way to encourage people to get into cycling,” said Transport Minister Andrew Jones. “This announcement will provide an opportunity for thousands more to enjoy the advantages they offer.”

The electric bikes offer battery assisted pedalling at the flick of a switch.

Winning bids as part of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Sharing Pilot Scheme include commuter cycle hubs at railway stations and park and ride sites.

In Rotherham 70 e-bikes will be made available at an existing travel hub to attract commuters who currently do not cycle.

On the Isle of Wight a total of 25 e-bikes will be on offer at visitor centres in Newport, Ryde and Cowes.

At the University of Brighton 20 e-bikes will be available to encourage more students to cycle a hilly route between the Eastbourne campus and the local railway station.

Further e-bikes will be available in Plymouth, Bristol and Oxford.

Many of the successful schemes will be assisted by an organisation called Carplus. The company's director Alistair Kirkbride said: “Riding an electric bike is like cycling with the wind behind you. Electric bikes have been shown to encourage more people to cycle more often.”

Photo shows a hybrid cycle scheme in Madrid. Image courtesy of Alvy/Microsiervos