A RARE bicycle which was made in Malvern has been acquired by the town's museum, where it will be going on show.

The Santler Malvernia Model B bicycle dates to about 1898, and was built by the Santler brothers at their workshop in Worcester Road, Malvern Link.

The steel-framed bike would have sold for between £10 and £13 at the time, depending on the type of tyres desired by the customer.

Faith Renger of the museum said: "Malvern Cycling Club was founded in 1883 because there was such a keen interest in this form of transport among men and women. The Santler brothers were members of this group which numbered over 50 in 1885, including two women. Cycling groups campaigned for better road surfaces and warning signs.

"Cycling was more than a means of transport associated with trade deliveries. It was a highly regarded leisure pursuit among the middle classes. The club attracted notable scholars from the College, medical doctors, bankers, and local government officials."

Brian Iles of the museum has worked out that the bicycle's purchase price is the equivalent to between £1,200 and £1,560 in today's money. "Cycling certainly wasn't a cheap hobby," he said.

The brothers, Charles and Walter Santler, were trained engineers and worked from their family-run factory on Howsell Road.

In 1896, the works moved to Worcester Road, Malvern Link, between Hampden Road and Richmond Road. The brothers also had a showroom at the Assembly Rooms, Grange Road, in the town's centre.

The Santler brothers are best known for their invention of Britain's first petrol driven four-wheel car, which by 1894 was reaching speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.