Minutes and merchandise are up for grabs this weekend at a special event organised by bike hire company Beryl.

Held this Saturday at St Peter’s Square in Brighton between 10am and 3pm, the event will give visitors the chance to win merchandise and free minutes to use on Beryl BTN Bikes.

Visitors can also speak to Beryl staff, ask questions and try out the vehicles.

Since the scheme’s initial phase one launched on March 31, it has generated over 70,000 journeys across more than a quarter of a million kilometres.

Beryl said direct feedback from riders also shows that it has replaced nearly ten thousand private vehicle journeys, saving nearly six tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of nearly 35 flights between London and Edinburgh.

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Beryl CEO and co-founder Phil Ellis said: “It would be great to see people come down and show their support and enthusiasm for what we are trying to achieve here; which is to break down the barriers to active travel, improve public health and decarbonise transport by reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions."

There has been criticism over pricing, but Mr Ellis said:  “Our Beryl BTN Bikes are not only convenient, simple to use and fun, they can also save you a lot of money compared to private vehicle use, removing the costs associated with fuel, parking, tax, maintenance, storage, parking, MOT and insurance.”

When fully delivered this autumn, the scheme will have a total of 780 bikes, including 468 e-bikes and 312 pedal bikes. This means users will be able to ride and park the bikes in more parts of the city.

Beryl state they are recognised for meeting "exceptional standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency".

People can hire a Beryl e-bike through the Beryl app, available for free download on the App Store for iOS, and the Google Play Store for Android users.

Once registered people can use the app to find the nearest bike.

When finished, the bike needs to be parked up in one of the designated Beryl bays.

People may incur a charge if bikes are left at bays which are currently not in use.