Prince Charles got on his bike and donated his old trousers to charity on a whistlestop visit to Glasgow.

The Duke of Rothesay arrived in the city yesterday on the first day of a week-long tour of Britain to promote his latest environmental project, Start.

He spent 90 minutes in Central Station visiting around 15 stalls promoting green-friendly aspects to their business.

Accompanied by Glasgow Lord Provost Bob Winter, the Prince also visited a donation station hosted by Oxfam to handed in a pair of old green cords before trying out a collapsible bike.

Christine Scott, 54, manager of Oxfam in Milngavie, said: “If what he donated is suitable we will sell it through one of the Oxfam shops.

“He just thought it was great that clothes were not going into landfill.”

The royal visitor also met representatives of EDF Energy, IBM, Virgin Money, Waitrose, B&Q and organisations representing Sustainable Glasgow, including Glasgow City Council, City Building and Glasgow Housing Association.

He also spoke to a small group of cyclists from British Cycling who attempted to beat the Royal Train to Edinburgh, the next stop on his itinerary.

Among them was Peter Haymes, a 32-year-old cyclist from Carlisle, who showed the prince a collapsible Brompton bike before setting off with the other cyclists to race against the Royal Train.

Mr Haymes said: “I was quite surprised when he sat on the bike, but I was pleased that the seat was at the right height.”

The Start tour is designed to encourage “more sustainable lives” and demonstrate what a more energy-efficient, cleaner and healthier future could look like.

The Prince said: “We’ve seen some excellent examples of recycling by Glasgow City Council, but to achieve change on the scale which is necessary, we have to take a different approach.

“The message of Start is about encouraging and assisting everyone to take the first steps towards the world that we all want to live in.

“A clean, healthy, energy-efficient world that lives within the limits of its natural resources.”

The project is part of the Prince’s Charities Foundation and is backed by several UK firms.

The royal tour, which ends in London on Friday, is designed to highlight some of the best examples of sustainability.