EMERGENCY workers could soon be cycling to the aid of injured people on the streets of Colchester.

Two St John Ambulance workers want to use bikes with sirens and flashing lights, rather than cars, to get to accidents faster.

The pair are looking to raise £5,000 to buy the special bikes and put the idea in motion by September.

Bernie Rhodes, who came up with the plan, said: “It gets incredibly busy in the town centre and it’s not easy to reach people.

“Some of the roads are cut off and blocked because of the market, which means the cars can’t get to people.

“We often end up leaving the cars and having to walk or run to the scene to help, and that can be a long way.

“If we had the bikes, we could cut right through the problems and get to people a lot faster.”

Research compiled by Miss Rhodes, 17, and colleague John Nicholls, 58, suggests the team could save 250 hours of ambulance time in a six-month period by using the bikes.

But the pair need to get the backing of the East of England Ambulance Service and Essex County Council to put the plan in motion.

Miss Rhodes, of Ventura Drive, Colchester, said: “We are meeting with them soon to pitch the idea.

“I’m going to put up a good argument and I hope my research speaks for itself.”

Bicycles were first used by St John Ambulance in London in 2003. Chelmsford is the only place in Essex that uses them.

If you would like to donate to the fund to buy the bikes, visit www.justgiving.co.uk/bernie rhodes