Trishaw pilots are wanted by Forres Rotary to transport less abled residents around the town

Volunteers are recruiting ‘pilots’ for a new community trishaw this weekend.

Rotary Club of Forres invested £8000 in the three-wheeled transport - similar to a rickshaw but with the passengers in front - in April to offer less mobile people free rides around town.

Rotarian, Jim McPherson, confirmed the project has already successfully recruited at Forres Highland Games and the Grant Park 100 festival.

He said: “The Trishaw was in action on those occasions. A good number of people stopped for a chat, with around 20 taking away information leaflets.

“The trishaw will be at further local events and subsequent training sessions that will give us definite numbers of recruits.

“Ideally, we would like to get between 15 and 20 pilot volunteers. Currently, we have five who have undertaken training and a further seven who are at different stages of the training programme.”

Forres Rotary will again be at Grant Park from 11am-3pm on Sunday, September 8 for visitors to find out more.

The project is being supported by charity Cycling Without Age - Scotland, which aims to enrich lives by giving elderly and disabled people access to the outdoors via trishaw rides.

For more information see https://cyclingwithoutage.scot/

Pilots do not need to be experienced cyclists. Forres Rotary supply full training for the trishaw E-bike.

“It is easy to pedal,” added Jim. “Pilots will only be expected to work when suits them. Some folk will be able to attend weekly, others maybe once-a-month or so.”

For more information call 07831 758634 or email forres.trishaw@gmail.com

“Being able to assist less able members of the community is very satisfying,” said Jim. “Volunteers are contributing to the community by offering the opportunity for anyone with limited mobility to get out-and-about.

“And pilots also get exercise and fresh air!”