BICYCLE owners are being encouraged to register their bikes to combat thieves.

Following a spike in the number of bikes being stolen, Warrington BID is working with Cheshire Police and Warrington Buyers Club to encourage people to protect their bicycles by registering with the national Bike Register Scheme.

On Saturday, December 14 between 11am and 3pm, visitors to the Cycle House in Portland Trade Park, Buckley Street, will be able to have their bike marked for free by Cheshire Police.

Bikes will be stamped and details of the identity number and owner will be entered onto the Bike Register database.

Sgt Rob Horton from Warrington Police said: "Bikes are marked with a tamper resistant warning label with a unique QR code that can be scanned instantly with a smart phone to deter would-be thieves.

"Every police force in the UK uses this resource to search for stolen and recovered bikes which contains the details of more than 875,000 registered to date."

Harriet Roberts, Warrington BID manager added: "Christmas is always a busy time for people purchasing bikes so it’s a good time to remind people about keeping their belongings safe.

"This scheme is a great example of police and BID Businesses working together for the community to make the town safer."

The campaign is being promoted with the chance to win a top-of-the-range bike sponsored by Warrington BID, Warrington Buyers Club and the Cycle House.

To enter the online competition, visit the Warrington Buyers Club social media channels or head to the Cycle Marking event on December 14 to be automatically entered into a prize draw.