PUPILS at a Darlington school are being encouraged to ride to school to mark the opening of their new bike shed.

The shed at Hummersknott School and Language College will be officially opened on Monday.

The school was one of six in the borough to get Government funding earlier this year to make their travel plan a reality.

The plan was devised by pupils, staff and parents and aimed to make it safer for those children already walking and cycling and encourage more pupils to join in.

The schools' travel plan grant, along with funding from Darlington Borough Council, paid for the new bike shed to be built.

The shed will be looked after by bike monitors, pupils who will make sure that only those with permits are using the shed and that it is being used responsibly.

Hummersknott School is now part of the Bike It project run by Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, because of its enthusiasm in promoting cycling over the last year.

The school also offers advanced cycle training to pupils run by the council's road safety team.

The opening of the school's new shed will be marked by an early morning performance by the school jazz band before it is officially opened