LIVERPOOL is to get its own version of the ‘Boris Bike’ hire scheme that has taken London by storm.

The city’s cycle scheme – which will launch next summer – will be the biggest outside the capital whose bike programme is named after its flamboyant mayor Boris Johnson.

The £1.5m project will eventually see 1,000 bikes put onto Liverpool’s streets for hire from 60 stations, primarily in the city centre.

It is hoped the scheme will be popular with the city centre’s 35,000 residents and help promote the image of Liverpool as a modern forward-thinking place.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “This is an exciting project, which would put Liverpool at the forefront of building sustainable transport into everyday city life.

“With the major increases in the numbers of people living, working and visiting the city centre, we believe the time is right to introduce a cycle hire scheme, to reduce reliance on the car and to offer a low carbon, low cost, healthier way to get around Liverpool.

“Whether it’s for the last mile of the journey to and from the office, to travel across town to attend meetings, to get to university lectures, or to visit shops and tourist attractions, we think this initiative could bring huge benefits to a wide range of people.”

The scheme, which will see users get the first half hour free, will start with 300 bikes in the city centre, and expand over 18 months to 1,000.

The exact locations of the stations have not yet been announced.

The hire scheme will run 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.