THE second York Walk Cycle Festival was being launched today at a party in Rowntree Park, with music from the Arts Barge Project‘s Bargestra Orchestra and Gypsy Jazz Jam.

The week long festival features walks, rides and workshops 'to inspire, entertain and guide you around beautiful green spaces and plunge you into York’s cultural world of sculpture, music, painting, Shakespeare, and local food and drink'.

Cycle Heaven and Angel on the Green in Bishopthorpe Road are offering cyclists a free bike check, plus a cup of tea or coffee on the house while they wait, as part of the festival. Andy Shrimpton of Cycle Heaven, said: “We really want to encourage people to dig their bikes out of the shed and get them back on the road in time for the summer."To book, phone 01904 654183.

Meanwhile, an informal ride is set to leave the Angel at 6pm on Thursday to a barbecue at Naburn station, open to cyclists of all abilities. People can cook their own food while listening to live music from David Ward Maclean.