It can also be adjusted to be ridden without pedals.

Noelia Vallano's graduate project for her degree in product design and diploma in higher education in industrial modelling, B'Kids, got her a prize from the university and put her into the finals of the Mercat d'Idees design fair awards last year.

Her B'Kids bike (pictured) is aimed mainly at children aged between two and six and can be adjusted to keep up with the ever-changing height, weight and mental and physical capabilities of the child.

Noelia says this way, children will be able to learn to ride a bike and enjoy doing so at an earlier age, meaning they are more likely to choose this method of transport whenever they can in adult life instead of cars.

The fact it is made of natural and locally-sourced materials, including wood and cork, is another factor in its favour in terms of protecting the environment.

According to the student from Barcelona's Art and Design School, the idea came about because, in difficult financial times such as the present, the cost of new toys when children grow out of old ones can be prohibitive for parents – but in the case of the B'Kids bike, it will last them at least four years, and possibly more.