Pedal power and pads feature in two sports schemes aiming at help adults on recovery programmes get their lives back on track.

Essex County Cricket Club hopes to put on a good partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council on their ‘One Hit to Another Hit’ training project, with a cycling scheme letting participants gain a qualification in bike maintenance.

Participants on the One Hit programme can ‘give back’ by organising cricket activities and receive training in umpiring and first aid.

Pedal Power, by comparison, includes a riding course and talks on the health and mental health benefits of cycling.

The projects uses bikes stored by the Met Police that are not claimed after thefts.

They will remain property of the project until participants prove they have taken part in alcohol or drug treatment programmes for at least six month, and are not committing crimes.