A SCHEME which helps young people with transport has just been given new electric mopeds, with a Kings Worthy resident benefitting.

Wheels to Work helps young people aged 16 to 25 years old in rural areas of Hampshire by loaning them their own form of transport.

Tom Davies, 19, who works as a greenkeeper at the Royal Winchester Golf Course uses one of the mopeds to travel to and from Kings Worthy.

Tom said: “It has made a huge difference because before this I had to rely on a lift from my mum at 8am. But having this means I can do much earlier starts and I can be more flexible with my hours. I would definitely recommend this scheme to other younger people like me.”

Tom was also given support for equipment, in the form of a free helmet and a jacket and gloves at a generously discounted rate.

The county council’s executive member for highways operations, Cllr Russell Oppenheimer, said: “Providing these electric mopeds as part of the Wheels to Work scheme is a double win for us – not only are we providing young people in rural areas a vital and reliable form of transport so they can get to work, training and interviews; but with these new mopeds we are being more environmentally friendly and helping Hampshire reduce emissions and reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. And, we have plans to purchase more over the coming months.”

Young people aged 16 to 25 can hire a moped from £20 per week, those over 25 may also be able to benefit from the scheme in specific circumstances.

A total of five electric powered mopeds have been purchased to date with plans to purchase more in the coming months.