PLANS to more than double the number of bright pink bikes available through the city council's hire scheme have got the go-ahead.

Councillors have agreed a new seven year contract which will see the scheme expand from autumn this year.

The hire scheme was launched in June 2014 with 400 bikes available at 31 locations across the city. There are now 435 bikes at 43 locations.

More than 16,000 people have registered to use the bikes which have been hired more than 270,000 times.

The decision to award a seven year contract to NextBike will result in the number of bikes available more than doubling and many more cycle stations across the city.

New locations will be based on where there are areas of high demand, the proximity to railway stations or key cycling and transport routes and future developments.

City council leader Frank McAveety said: "The scheme has been a phenomenal success since it was launched and the people of Glasgow and surrounding areas really have embraced it.

"The bikes are being seen in use all over the city and are very popular with commuters, students, businesses and visitors.

"It is clear there is a real appetite for the cycle hire scheme in Glasgow. We receive overwhelming feedback from users of the scheme and numerous requests for more stations.

"We want to see the scheme continue to grow, bringing more bikes and stations in the city for people to use.

"In addition to the millions of pounds we are investing on cycle routes and infrastructure this is yet further progress in realising our ambition to make Glasgow one of the UK's most cycling friendly cities."

NextBike operates 35,000 bikes in 80 cities worldwide including Auckland, Dubai, Nurnberg and Zagreb.

The Glasgow scheme is the biggest in Scotland and the fourth largest in the UK.