The British Transport Police are offering free bicycle tagging and security checks at sessions taking place in Huntingdon and St Neots next week.

Officers will be providing safety advice to commuters who may have unwrapped a new bike for Christmas as part of Operation Wiggins - a national initiative launched by police to combat cycle crime on the rail network.

Sessions will be taking place at the following railway stations:

January 4

• St Neots - 7.30-9.30am

January 5

• Huntingdon – 7.30-9.30am

• St Neots – 3.30-7pm

January 6

• Huntingdon – 3.30-7pm

Inspector Andrew Pickles said: “Unfortunately thieves have been targeting bikes across the Cambridgeshire area recently and with the likelihood of new bikes appearing after Christmas, we may see an increase in festive thieves.

“We are doing all we can to reduce bike crime at stations - including carrying out high-visibility patrols and regular cycle surgeries – but with these recent thefts in mind, we’d ask people to be vigilant and step up their bike security.

“There are a number of steps cyclists can take to help prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime. Getting their bike registered on the national crime-fighting database at our cycle surgeries is completely free of charge.

“Registering your bike helps police return any recovered stolen cycles to their owners more easily - and it makes your property less appealing to would-be thieves.

“Make sure you also invest in a high quality D-lock and consider using more than one lock to secure your bike and to make it more difficult to steal.”