It may be a common sight in Beijing but on the streets of Birmingham yesterday cyclist Damien Hart and the city's new fleet of rickshaws were turning heads.

The two pedal-powered people carriers have been introduced to the city by Black Country businessman Gary Wager.

People can flag down the bikes as they pass or wait at designated points in the city. The rickshaw riders will carry two passengers at a time and although they are pedal-powered they also are equipped with a motor.

The project is being funded by advertising on the side of the vehicles.

Mr Wager said he thought his idea would work because the rickshaws were able to access the city's extensive pedestrian areas.

"Birmingham is the ideal city for something like this. It's quite spread out but it has a large pedestrianised area that the bikes can operate in.

"We've got two riders who will be carrying people around the city centre for free.. The idea is that if someone comes out of the Bullring and needs to get to the station we can take them there for free.

"We call it 'advertising in motion', because it's like a moving billboard and it's so unusual people stop and stare."