The eco-taxi which is a common way to travel around many European cities

A NEW type of eco 'rickshaw taxi-bike' could soon be powering around Belfast - top speed five km per hour - if a Co Down entrepreneur raises the £20,000 needed for his venture.

Sean McManus, who lives in Kilkeel and currently works as a firefighter at Belfast's Ormeau Road station, is hoping to raise the money through crowdfunding with the aim of attracting backing in return for company advertising along the side of his open-air 'cabs'.

"I have had a good response to the idea so far so I'm hoping people will see the benefits and help me raise the money," he said.

"I have already sourced premises at an industrial site at east Belfast and I hope to buy between six and eight cabs and then employ drivers.

"Passengers will benefit from cheaper journeys as I hope to keep fare prices low, due to costs being mostly borne by advertising revenue."

A former joiner with his own business, Sean came up with the idea for Fresh Cabs Belfast after spending time travelling around Canadian and European cities where he was impressed by the volume and availability of similar-type pedal-power taxis.

"The cabs I am currently sourcing from either China or Germany will be battery-assisted but the drivers will still need to be fit as they are mainly powered by pedalling," he said.

"They will also need to know their way about the city, although there will be a two kilometre limit on all journeys."

Sean, who has already put forward a business plan to Invest NI and been in talks with Belfast City Council in relation to parking facilities and the use of cycle lanes, believes Belfast is ready for the innovative scheme.

"I got interested in the idea of an eco cab after I worked for velotaxis in Nuremburg a couple of years ago," he said.

"I also saw them in Toronto and Dublin and they are a great, environmentally friendly way to efficiently get about the city.

"Anyone I have shared my idea with also shares my excitement - it aligns with the new bright, exciting and rejuvenated Belfast and delivers the goal of a clean eco city."

The cabs will have room for two passengers, be fully insured and be of "high standard design", operating initially from March to December and from 10-5 daily.

Pledges of £5,000, £1,000, £250 and £25 are available alongside a range of advertising benefits at crowdfunder.co.uk/eco-cabs-belfast.