Cycling Santas turned heads in the city centre - as they campaigned for more cash from Manchester town hall.

Arriving at the town hall, the two-wheeled crew delivered a symbolic parcel to council bosses urging them to spend further cash on cycle lanes and improving safety features.

The campaigners are calling on Manchester council to invest £25 per head on new and improved cycle lanes.

Coun Kate Chappell, executive member for the environment, accepted the parcel on behalf of Manchester City Council.

A ‘Bike Life’ survey last month revealed 75 per cent of Greater Manchester residents - including non-cyclists - wanted more cash for cycling.

(Image: Dominic Salter)

Around 20 Santas on bikes travelled in for their usual commute from across Greater Manchester – including Chorlton, Trafford, Levenshulme, Salford and Altrincham.

Rosslyn Colderley, regional director for Sustrans North West said: “The Santas on bikes have delivered what residents in Greater Manchester clearly said they wanted for Christmas. But this doesn’t have to be a wishful fantasy. With the ‘devolution revolution’ Manchester has a great opportunity to do things differently and commit to consistent investment in cycling. It will help make our city healthier, less congested and a better place to live. Forward thinking cities like Bristol and Edinburgh can do it, why can’t we?”

(Image: Dominic Salter)

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Graeme Sherriff of Love Your Bike Said: “The Bike Life survey shows strong support for increased investment in cycle infrastructure and also highlights that spending on cycling pays dividends in terms of the financial benefits to the local economy, to our health and the environment. Cycling is no longer a minority voice: in times of austerity, cycling is a prudent investment in the future of our city.”

Nick Hubble of Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign said: “At Christmas a lot of people will be getting shiny new bikes. However, without safe places to ride them, their enjoyment of their brand new pride and joy may well be tempered.1

“There is a huge public mandate to transform Greater Manchester’s transport infrastructure in favour of active travel, which would generate huge social returns and create a more liveable urban environment. To quote the brilliant cycling cartoonist Bikeyface, ‘Hey Santa, thanks for the new bike last Christmas. But this Christmas all I want is somewhere to ride it’.”