A 75-year-old former gang member is hoping to use his passion for cycling to help improve the lives of ex-offenders.

Roy Savery, who finished third in last year’s World Masters Track Championship, is once again being supported by Sutton businesses in his latest scheme.

Mr Savery hopes his new project can simultaneously tackle poor health and obesity, reduce carbon emissions and help rehabilitate ex-offenders.

The scheme, named Bicycle Recycle, will use old and damaged bikes in an effort to help people, including those who have been involved in crime, improve their lives.

Mr Savery said: “The scheme is about bicycle recycling, but it’s also about helping to recycle people’s lives."

As a teenager, the grandfather-of-two he was a young offender, but having spent time in prison for gang involvement, he turned to cycling as a productive way of using his time.

He said: "A simple bicycle changed my life. It allowed me to expand my horizons and get out of the troubled areas of my life and into the wide open spaces, where it was just me and my bike against the world."

Belmont Garage in Sutton also hopes to support the project by providing a van to transport the recycled bikes.

The garage has assisted Roy in his previous ventures, such as his cycling championship opportunity in 2011.

Ian Williams, the owner of Belmont, said: “We supported Roy on his bid to become Over-75s world track champion last year and are now doing the same for his Bicycle Recycle initiative.

"It will give ex-prisoners a meaning, and hopefully means they won’t reoffend.”

“We are providing him with a Hyundai van because we want to help him support the local community.”

Roy has already begun sourcing bikes for the scheme, which he is excited about getting up and running.

He said: “I’m so enthusiastic about it. It’s the concept I’ve been working towards for years – helping people to try and improve their lives.”