A SOUTH Craven election candidate has hit the campaign trail – on his bike!

Labour hopeful Malcolm Birks is using a specially-designed 'battle bike', with pop-up trailer, to spread his message.

The adaptation was built by Mike Ashdown, Mr Birks' former woodwork teacher from his student days at South Craven School in Cross Hills.

Playwright and author Alan Bennett is among those who have given their support to the so-called Ride for Fairness.

Mr Birks said: "The Labour party traditionally doesn't get much of a look-in around these parts.

"I recently received a postcard from Alan Bennett in support of my campaign, whilst warning me of a saying in his village that the Tory party could field a sheep as its candidate and it would still get elected. But times have changed and the issues in this election are as real in this constituency as they are anywhere else."

Other candidates who have announced they are standing in South Craven – part of the Skipton and Ripon constituency – are sitting Tory MP Julian Smith, Jacquie Bell (Lib Dem), Andrew Brown (Green) and Alan Henderson (UKIP).