More people will be pedalling their way across Lowestoft thanks to a scheme which mirrors a bike hire project in the capital.

A Bike and Go shelter has been unveiled at Lowestoft railway station.

Similar to 'Boris Bikes' in London, the scheme will see people able to hire bicycles for £3.80 a day from the station's ticket office after they have registered for the scheme for £10.

It is hoped holiday makers who want to explore the town, employees making their way to work and businessmen heading to appointments will hire the bikes, and as well as finding it easy to get around Lowestoft it will help them get healthier at the same time.

Lowestoft is the first station in Suffolk to get the Greater Anglia bike hire scheme, which cost £500,000 and will eventually cover 15 stations in the eastern region.

Launching the Bike and Go scheme was Peter Aldous Waveney, MP, who was pleased to see it marked the completion of major investment at the station following the opening of a new shop and a £1m bus-rail interchange there last year and new disabled toilets.

He said: 'This is another component in encouraging use of trains. The bikes will make it easier for train passengers to get around Lowestoft.

'Boris bikes have been a success in London and I can see Bike and Go doing well in Lowestoft.

'It will encourage more people and tourists to come to the town centre.'

The Bike and Go scheme has already been launched at stations in Essex and will be set up in Ipswich, Stowmarket and Great Yarmouth railway stations.

Although similar to the Boris Bikes project set up by London mayor Boris Johnson, the scheme is actually modelled on the Dutch railways OV-fiets station cycle hire initiative.

Andrew Goodrum, Great Anglia's customer service director, said: 'We are delighted that the improvements at Lowestoft railway station are now complete.

'Bike and Go will improve the service and choice that we provide for our customers who are keen to cycle to and from stations.

'Competitively priced and easy to use, Bike and Go complements other investment we are making to improve cycle parking, with more secure facilities and new cycle points to offer a greener and healthier travel choice for our customers.'

Launched in 2010 by Mr Johnson, the London cycle hire scheme now has 10,000 bikes and 723 stations across the capital.

For information on the bike hire scheme visit www.bikeandgo.co.uk