An application for funding worth £1.5 million to boost Cycling has been made.

Brighton and Hove City Council has submitted a bid to become a "cycling demonstration town". The city was invited to apply for the status by specialist group Cycling England along with 30 other local authorities.

If successful, the council would receive an annual grant of £500,000 for the next three years to spend on boosting cycling as a safe and healthy way to get around the city.

A shortlist will be announced this month by the Department for Transport and the winner revealed in October.

Councillor Craig Turton, deputy chairman of the environment committee, said: "The fact that we have been invited to bid is a recognition of the work we are doing to encourage cycling in the city."

There has been a 47.3 per cent increase in cycle journeys into the city centre since 2000.