A bike hire and repair business in Cheddar has issued a warning for cyclists using the Strawberry Line.

Cheddar Bikes has noticed an 'abnormal amount' of punctures from bikes on the Strawberry Line.

As well as its regular bike maintenance service, since opening in the spring the workshop at Cheddar Bikes has helped visitors and locals with minor repairs on bicycles as a drop-in service typically fixing punctures and fine tuning bikes to help customers stay on the road and get home safely.

Since mid-July there has been a significant rise in punctures on the cycle and walking path and the majority have been caused by 10mm metal tacks.

So far Cheddar Bikes has found 24 tacks in the tyres of their own hire bikes, locals' bikes and tourists' bikes.

Cheddar Bikes' Simon Lloyd said: "This seems to be too much of a coincidence to be accidental.

"The pattern of punctures seems to indicate the area between the Lamb Inn in Axbridge and the Shute Shelf railway tunnel on the Strawberry Line. However, we have had two occurrences as far away as Congresbury.

"We have walked and inspected the area thoroughly but found no evidence. We just hope no-one, human or dog, gets hurt.

"As a new business this is a big distraction and an unnecessary expense. We would like to kindly ask any users of the Strawberry Line to be vigilant of these tacks and report any findings to Cheddar Bikes."