A FATHER and son cycling team have secured £250,000 backing to take their business up a gear.

Ian and Trevor Hughes aim to expand their company after support from the Finance For Business North East Growth Fund.

The duo oversee Gateshead-headquartered Vielo Sports, which is the UK’s sole distributor of German road and mountain bike brand Storck and wheel marque Lightweight.

They manage a network of 42 retailers across the country but hope to take that number beyond 50 with their £250,000 support, which was secured after working with NEL Fund Managers.

Ian Hughes, who previously spent 15 years setting up and running Swiss-based cycling brand Scott in the UK, said the financial backing will help Vielo increase stock volumes and improve marketing.

He added it could also deliver jobs and allow Vielo, which has turnover of £750,000, to move into a larger base.

He said: “My experience and contacts put us in a great position to introduce Storck to the UK market, and we have successfully built it as a high-quality name.

“We’re already Storck’s largest distributor though we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what can be achieved and NEL has given us the resources to realise even more of the business’ potential.”

Jane Siddle, NEL Fund Managers’ investment executive, added: “The growth of the UK cycling market in the last 20 years has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“Vielo Sports has the right type of product to make further impressive inroads.”