Prisoners have presented Christmas bikes to high-achieving youngsters and needy families to recognise their efforts at school.

The Life Line group handed over pristine second-hand pedal bicycles to six pupils from primary schools across the island as well as a further six bikes to families living in the Gulf Stream sheltered housing block.

Five inmates — Kenneth Burgess, Phillip Bradshaw, Jay Dill, Victor Roberts and Brittonie Taylor — have been working evenings and weekends at Westgate to get the bikes ready for the children in time for Christmas.

It’s the fourth successive year that the group has handed out bikes to primary schoolchildren, but this year they decided to take on a bigger workload to try and help children living at Gulf Stream as well.

“It is easier to build strong children than repair a broken man,” said Mr Burgess. “That is what this is all about — encouraging strong children.”

The group relies on the work of Gina Ingham to provide them with the bikes and the parts they need to restore them to near-new condition.

Ms Ingham often picks the bikes up from the dump and works with Winner’s Edge to ensure the prisoners have the spare parts they require.

Yesterday, the prisoners handed over bikes to Omario Clark, 9, from St David’s Primary School; Teyma Williams, 9, from Paget Primary, Nyindae Smith, 9, from Francis Patton, Teneik Wallen, 9, from Victor Scott and Iyvon Smith, 7, from West Pembroke.

Elliot Primary School’s bike winner was unable to attend the ceremony, but will receive her prize next week,

“This makes me feel very happy,” Nyindae Smith said. “I used to have a bike but the chain broke last year, so I’m looking forward to driving my one around this Christmas.”

Iyvon Smith added: “It’s nice. I have been working hard this year and my old bike broke down. I’ll share it with my younger brother.”

Over the last four years the Life Line group has presented dozens of bikes to students as well as raising money for local charities. Recently, they took part in Movember and raised $200 for the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre.

Mr Bradshaw told The Royal Gazette: “You never get tired of this. This is the project I look forward to the most.

“Just to see the smiles on the boys’ and girls’ faces is great, it’s very rewarding.”

Commissioner of Corrections Edward Lamb praised the prisoners for their efforts.

“This is all about giving something back to the community and using the talents that the inmates have,” he added. “The best thing about this is that it is all driven by the inmates themselves

“It provides a connection with them and the community and gives the inmates a great sense of fulfilment and purpose.”