‘HUNDREDS’ of Beryl Bikes have been taken off the streets of Bournemouth and Poole this month.

The bicycles, worth some £950 each, are hired out to members of the public via a mobile phone app.

When the scheme was rolled out last year, there were around 1,000 bicycles at hundreds of parking bays across the conurbation. However, it is believed there are now just 100 currently available for use.

Phil Ellis, CEO of Beryl, told the Daily Echo repairs are being made to the fleet.

“We’re aware that our availability of bikes is lower than usual in the Bournemouth and Poole area at the moment,” he said.

“Due to some previous issues with damage to our fleet, we’ve been taking the opportunity over the Christmas and early new year period to give all our bikes a thorough service and ensure that they’re meeting all the necessary safety standards.

“While this means that in the short term there are fewer bikes available to hire in the BCP Council area, numbers will increase steadily from the end of this month as we bring the fleet back to full strength, ready for a busy spring and summer season.”

As reported in October last year, damaged or stolen Beryl Bikes worth more than £15,000 were recovered in a police operation.

Officers from Bournemouth South Police joined forces with Beryl to trace the bikes.

One of the bikes tracked down by the officers had been spray-painted red. Others were reportedly stripped of important and valuable parts.

Since their introduction, Beryl Bikes have been used to cycle the equivalent of twice round the world.

But damage has been reported on a number of occasions, including tyre slashing and the theft of saddles.

There have also been suggestions that youths have been removing GPS systems from the bikes.

Officers said the initiative to recover the missing and damaged bicycles “sends a clear message to those stealing or damaging the bikes that it will not be tolerated.”