The cash will be used by Lancashire County Council to extend cycle lanes, create new routes and improve signs.

A further £3m is expected to be added to the pot over the next year from sources including Cycle England, district councils and transport fund Civitas.

Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and Lancaster will be among the areas to benefit.

Coun Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for transport, said getting more people on their bikes was a priority and said: "We see cycling as a way of addressing two significant problems for Lancashire.

"It can help cut congestion in our town and city centres and studies show cycling can have a significant impact on people's health."

Projects include extending a cycle path between Preston and Grimsargh and setting up a contraflow lane into Preston.

A railside path between Bamber Bridge and Walton Summit will have a £50,000 upgrade amid concerns an existing lane via the M6 junction has a high accident rate.

In Chorley, £20,000 has been earmarked to complete the cycle path on the south side of Millennium Way between the A6 and M61 roundabouts and improve access to Chorley North Industrial Estate.

And £125,000 will go on continuing Lancaster's cycling demonstration project and £20,000 to improve cycle lane signs in Preston and South Ribble.

School schemes will also benefit, with Sherwood Primary in Fulwood getting a £20,000 cycle link after pupils piloted a cycling safety scheme.

Aiden Turner-Bishop of the Campaign for Better Transport said: "It would help ease congestion if we can cut down on the school run.

"Parents are often reluctant for children to cycle."

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