Upminster pupils get on their bikes for cycling cause

Secondary school pupils in Upminster have been teaching younger children about the importance of cycling.

Students in years seven, eight and nine from The Coopers Company and Coborn School in St Mary’s Lane, got on their bikes and visited three primary schools in association with Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity.

The visits coincided with the Big Pedal, a national school cycling and scooting competition which started this week and finishes on Friday, March 14.

Lee Hanford, site manager at Coopers, said: “It is important to encourage children from an early age to really think about making their school journey by more sustainable methods, especially cycling.”

The pupils were special guests at Upminster Junior School in St Mary’s Lane, Engayne Primary School in Severn Drive and St Joseph’s Catholic in St Mary’s Lane last week.

The Big Pedal is the biggest inter-school cycling competition in the UK which aims to encourage children, parents and teacher to get active and pedalling on their journeys to school.

The winning Havering school will get a visit from a mountain bike stunt show to perform and the top two cyclists in the winning school will also win vouchers for a local bike shop, provided by Havering Council.

For more information visit www.bigpedal.org.uk.