Owners of a York city centre development have come up with a novel way to entice tenants and reduce congestion - they are providing a bicycle with each rented flat.

Residents of the 61 studios, apartments and town houses in renovated County House, in the Monkgate area of York, will get the free bikes under a new scheme by London-based ING Real Estate.

A spokesman for the company said: "By guaranteeing to preserve most of the trees on the site and encouraging people not to use their cars in the city centre by offering bikes with each property, ING Real Estate is protecting the environment.

"And being on a brown field site in the city, this development is in line with Government policy on the creation of new homes."

County House was the York County Hospital when it was built in 1849 at a cost of £11,000. The building fell into disrepair and suffered vandalism in the 1970s.

It will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Derek Smallwood, on November 12.

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