PEOPLE who have been given a bike for Christmas can take advantage of a free bike-marking and registration session in Wharf Green on Saturday.

The event is being run by Swindon Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and will take place between 11am and 1pm.

Bikes will be marked with a unique number using a plastic compound which is suitable for use on all bikes. Details of the bike and the owner is taken and Swindon CSP registers them on a national database which can be accessed by the police to check when a bike is found.

As well as offering bike-marking and registration, cyclists will also receive advice from Wiltshire Police and Swindon Council’s Health Ambassadors. Information and advice about the benefits and safety aspects of cycling will also be available.

Richard Palusinski, head of Swindon CSP, said: “Marking a bike to show who it belongs to makes it less attractive to thieves and provides an opportunity for the police to return the bike to its rightful owner if the worst should happen.”

For more information contact Swindon Community Safety Partnership on 01793 466506.