A MOTORCYCLE dealer has helped a police safety campaign into the saddle ahead of the summer.

J&L Motorcycles donated a Kawasaki Verys to Cumbria Police as part of their ongoing BikeSafe campaign.

The campaign aims to bridge the gap between motorcyclists passing their test and becoming experienced riders by providing training sessions in a bid to help reduce the number of accidents on the roads.

In the first four months of last year there were six major accidents involving motorcycles on Cumbria’s roads - four of which were fatal.

MORE TOP STORIES: Inspector Jo House, Cumbria Police’s BikeSafe co-ordinator, said: “The bike will be used as part of our engagement with the motorcycling community.

“Cumbria attracts thousands of motorcyclists every year and we have many motorcyclists who live here and use motorcycles for commuting and leisure.

“We are trying to reach as many of these riders as possible through BikeSafe, which is aimed at bridging the gap between having a licence and gaining some additional skills.

“Our workshops cover both the theoretical and practical aspects of safe riding.”

The bike has been donated, on loan, from J&L Motorcycles of Carlisle, the firm have backed the scheme for almost a decade.

Laurence Brown, managing director of J&L Motorcycles, said: "We have supported the Bike Safe Initiative since its inception in Cumbria. “As a keen motorcycle enthusiast this initiative is close to my heart, especially following recent events.

“There are always new lessons to be learned, and as an experienced rider and an ex-club level racer I was keen to see what the BikeSafe workshop had to offer me. “I attended the course in 2007 and I was impressed at how much I gained from this and I can honestly say I still put into practice what I was taught.”

For more information about the workshops, or to book a place, visit www.bikesafe.co.uk or phone 08444 151206.