Waitrose is taking grocery back to its roots and mounting its bicycle to deliver shopping to its customers in an environment-friendly manner.

The retailer will deliver goods via an electric bike with chilled trays towed behind in Poole, Dorset, The Telegraph reports.

The bike also has a boost button to help it climb steep hills, as Waitrose looks to increase online delivery without a rise in the use of vans.

The scheme also allows staff who are too young to drive a van a chance to become part of the delivery team.

The retailer is also allowing customers who cycle to the store to borrow wheeled containers.

Sarah Candy, deliveries manager at Waitrose in Poole, said: "I guess it is a bit of a throw back to the old days of grocery boys.

"We wanted to increase the number of deliveries to local customers. But sometimes it doesn't make sense to put a van out in busy traffic as the deliveries take a lot longer, as well as the impact on the environment.

"The bike can tow up to six crates, which can keep products frozen and chilled for up to two hours."

If both schemes are a success they could be rolled out to other Waitrose outlets across the country.

The eco-bike can deliver shopping to customers within 15 miles of the store and can carry up to 20 bags of shopping.