Old tandems take a new road via saleroom to raise cash for charity

For the past 60 years the Hull-based Beech Holme Tandem Club has taken blind and partially-sighted people from the Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind out on rides.

The "captain" at the front, who steers and cycles, is sighted while the visually-impaired "stoker" sits behind and pedals.

But some of the older bikes have become too difficult to repair and 44 tandems are being sold off. The collection includes early bolt-together frame bikes and cycles by well-known manufacturers including Claud Butler, Jack Taylor and Dawes and could fetch anything between 20 to 200.

Runs leader Robin Russell said maintaining the older bikes has been problematic since the death two years ago of volunteer mechanic Dennis Teale. But he said the bikes should appeal to people with the time to devote to their repair. "We are more interested in taking our visually impaired friends out and about rather than doing massive great repairs."

Auctioneer Andrew Baitson said: "Some are frames only and some are ready to go with a bit of wind in their tyres."

Money raised will go towards the annual 1,000 running costs of the club. The auction at Anlaby Road, Hull, is at 10.30am.