London cycle-hire scheme delayed

Boris Johnson's £140m scheme to bring bicycle hire to London is being delayed. Tourists and visitors to the capital will have to wait until the end of August before being able to use the new bikes, which will be available only to pre-registered members when the scheme is launched a week on Friday.

Officials have delayed the full roll-out amid concerns that there will not be enough cycles to meet demand after problems installing the docking stations.

Eventually 6,000 bikes will be available for hire from 300 or so sites around the capital. Organisers said the delay would allow them to analyse where bikes are being hired from or ridden to.