A VALUABLE collection of tandem bikes will be 'pedalled' by a Hull auctioneer this week.

In total, 44 two-person bikes will go under the hammer at Gilbert Baitson's auction house on Wednesday.

The bicycles belong to the Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind (HERIB), who previously used the bikes to take blind people out for rides.

They will use the cash to help with the upkeep of their new tandem bikes and their other charity work.

The models range from the 1920s to the 1980s and are expected to fetch between £20 and £200 each.

Auctioneer Andrew Baitson – who owns family firm Gilbert Baitson with his dad Michael – said anyone wanting "a bicycle made for two" could drop in for a pre-auction viewing tomorrow.

He said: "We want to try and get them as much as possible from the auction.

"We believe they have been in storage for a while but, for some of them, all they need is a repair to the punctures and away you go.

"We had a ride on some of them in the yard yesterday!"

Many of the bikes were crafted by classic British manufacturers including Claud Butler, Jack Taylor and Dawes.

Mr Baitson believes they will appeal to bike collectors and enthusiasts.

He said: "There will be people out there who will hopefully find this quite an exciting collection."

Family firm Gilbert Baitson celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

The auction will take place at Gilbert Baitson, 389-395 Anlaby Road, west Hull, at midday.

People can view the collection between 10am and 7pm tomorrow.

Call (01482) 500 500 for more information.