Eighty bikes are now available to be picked up from the Beryl bays in the towns, offering a choice of pedal bikes and e-bikes.

The recognisable bays, marked with green Beryl signage, are located at sites around Corfe Mullen and Upton. Riders just need to download the Beryl app, book their bike and start their adventure.

Having already proven a success in Wimborne, Ferndown, Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wool and Studland, the bike share scheme is now expanding its reach so more people can explore the area.

Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “We want to encourage even more people to take up sustainable transport and expanding our services to serve the Corfe Mullen and Upton areas will enable us to do this.

“By getting more people out of the car and onto two wheels, we can contribute towards getting more people active and improving public health as well as cutting congestion on the area’s roads and improving air quality.

Councillor Noc Lacey Clarke, Dorset Council Cabinet Lead for Highways and Travel, said: “We are delighted this popular bike hire scheme has extended to cover mid Dorset, it’s an ideal way to make the most of the area, leave the car at home and get active. If you haven’t tried an electric bike before, the new e-bikes are a great addition to the fleet, helping make those hillier areas more manageable!”

Councillor Lacey Clarke continued: “Dorset Council has ambitious targets for carbon emission reduction over the coming years, so providing a way for more people to leave their vehicles at home and hop on a bike aligns with our goal of creating stronger and healthier communities.”