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A crowd-funded campaign to buy Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn a new bicycle has topped £3,000 in less than a day.

Keen cyclist Mr Corbyn, 66, revealed in Stylist magazine that his “object of desire” was an aluminium-framed Raleigh Criterium, which retails for £475.

Days later, a fan of the Islington North MP pledged to help buy the bicycle for Mr Corbyn's birthday in May.

Set up by a fundraiser identified only as “J-Dawg”, the campaign quickly sailed past its original target and by Thursday afternoon had topped thousands of pounds.

J-Dawg made a public statement on the page saying he would donate the excess to a charity of Mr Corbyn’s choice.

It is not yet known whether Mr Corbyn will accept the bicycle or its cost as a gift. Under parliamentary rules MPs must declare gifts from constituents worth more than £300.

“With Eric Pickles having spent half a million quid at the taxpayer’s expense,” wrote J-Dawg on the page, “it seems that Jezza’s desire for eco-friendly transport at a thousandth of that cost is not unreasonable, especially because he would most likely buy it out of his own pocket, when considering he is the lowest expenses claimant in the Commons.

“I propose we make his dreams come true, by crowd-funding his bicycle in time for his birthday in May.

“I will stick a quid in and all we need is 474 other people to do the same, in order to put a smile on Jez’s face.”

He added it would “definitely be funny” to reach the target.

Writing about his admiration of the bicycle in a guest column for Stylist on Monday Mr Corbyn called the Criterium “light and therefore fast, but comfortable for longer rides too”.

He added: “I use my bike less frequently now that I’m leader of the Labour Party, but I still prefer to cycle whenever I can. Not only is it free, environmentally friendly and often the fastest way to travel, but it also gives the snappers outside my house a bit of variety.”

J-Dawg and Mr Corbyn’s office have been approached for comment.