MONEY left over after the winding up of the region’s biggest cycle ride is being distributed to help the sport’s grassroots.

Organisers of the Durham Big Ride announced earlier this year that the event has been staged for the last time, following the withdrawal of council funding.

Cash left over in the bank is now being distributed to sports clubs, with the first donation of £300 going to Hetton Hawks cycling club.

Ed Tutty, director of Durham Big Ride, said: “In our constitution, we always said that any surplus money would be given back to the sport at a grassroots level.

“As a not-for-profit company we always had a little bit left over from each year and now Hetton Hawks can benefit from this.”

Hetton Hawks chairman Mike Charlton added: “As a club, we cannot even begin to get across how grateful we are for the support of Durham Big Ride.

“The financial support will allow us to train two more qualified coaches and two more Child Welfare Officers.

“With more than 100 youngsters in the club, we rely on volunteers being skilled and qualified to provide the safest environment possible and we can only achieve this with this kind of support.”

Mr Tutty added: “We are more than happy to give back to the cycling community and to a club that supported the Durham Big Ride for the very first year.

“We have seen first-hand the great work the coaches do and hope this donation helps to consolidate the work going on at the club.”