PRIMARY school pupils from County Durham are encouraging their community to get back on their bikes and celebrate cycling.

Bearpark Primary School have been taking part in a three-week cycling event, the Big Bearpark Bike Bash.

The launch of the Bike Bash was attended by Councillor Marion Wilson, who funded the week’s events with a £1,000 grant from her neighbourhood budget, administered through Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP).

Cllr Lucy Hovvels, who attended in her capacity as Deputy Mayor of Durham, along with former Durham County Council chairman, Cllr John Lethbridge.

All 140 pupils, aged two to 11, took taking part in cycling activities, offering them new skills and hoping to ignite a love of cycling that will last a lifetime.

Children were helped to grow in confidence by professional cycling instructor Ben Tweedie, from Cycling Generation, who also taught the kids valuable skills in bike maintenance and map reading.

Cycling doesn’t stop at the school gates however, as pupils invited the whole community to get involved. With the help of two turbo bikes, the village was challenged to help school pupils achieve their goal of cycling the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats, 1,407km, by the end of the third week.

Yesterday, a special day open to the whole community and attended by county council chairman Cllr Katie Corrigan, was rounded off with cycle races.

Joanne Clements, head teacher at Bearpark Primary School, said: “The children have shown incredible enthusiasm and a real love of cycling. We are not only teaching young people how to cycle safely, but encouraging a hobby or habit that will benefit their health and well-being for the future."