A BID to attract more cyclists to Ledbury has been rolled out to Europe following an impressive start.

Around 3,000 people have visited the Come Cycling Ledbury website since its launch in March.

The website is billed as a package resource for cyclists with details on routes, bike shops, pubs, hotels and attractions.

It is based on the Walkers is Welcome scheme with the aim of making Ledbury a hub for green tourism and cycling holidays.

The site is proving a success as people from across Britain have ordered local cycle maps from their online shop.

Forum member Bella Johnson said the early response was encouraging with steady interest from across Britain and beyond.

Flyers have also appeared in cities afar as Exeter and Edinburgh and even parts of Holland and Germany.

“These cycle-friendly countries have a very big population of cyclists who could be tempted to explore the treasures of Herefordshire,” said Mrs Johnson. “Our website makes it very easy to arrange a holiday from long distance.”

Its potential was demonstrated last month when a London party of 15 travelled by train to Ledbury to cycle the Cider Route to Much Marcle. They saw the route online and hired cycles from the forum’s Ledbury Bike Hire facility, next to the station.

A link to ComeCyclingLedbury.com on the Ledbury Poetry Festival website also drummed up trade, while dozens of riders recently completed a promotional orchard picnic bike ride around the town.