Residents across Romsey, North Baddesley, Chandlers Ford and Eastleigh no longer have to wait weeks for bike services and repairs as a new shop opens up.

With the closures of some of the most well-known bicycle repair shops in the area, customers say they have been given wait times of up to 10 weeks to get bikes fixed.

The nation is set to go green by 2030 and people are actively encouraged to cycle.

Local entrepreneurs Will Rayden and Matt and Emily Blackledge, former Aviation Engineer recruiters, fell victim to the pandemic when travel ceased, and engineers were no longer able to travel to fix aircraft.

Will and Matt are both keen cyclists and bike mechanics who recognised the need for such services and the difficulties the closures have caused cyclists in the area which led them to set up Wessex Bike Repairs on Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford.

There is also a coffee shop where you can sit and wait for the repairs to be done.

Will said: “It’s not unusual to be told there is a wait time of 4, 6 or even 10 weeks to get your bike looked at in other workshops.

“We know that people rely on their bikes to get to work or to keep fit so we set up our business with a focus of getting people back out there as soon as possible.”

Matt said: “To save you time getting your bike fixed you can relax with a coffee and cake at our instore coffee shop `Wessex Bike Hub` while we fix your bike, but we welcome everyone, with or without a bike.”