School pupils are urged to get on their bikes!

Children at a lower school are being urged to jump on their bikes for the Big Pedal programme.

Youngsters at St Andrew’s Lower School in Biggleswade are being encouraged to take part in the national competition organised by the Sustrans charity, which aims to make children more active.

Hundreds of thousands of children are expected to take part in the initiative, an inter-school competition.

Schools will receive points based on the number of pupils who make journeys by bike or scooter.

The contest launched on Monday, March 3 and will run until Friday, March 14.

Caroline Lanning, deputy headteacher at the school said: “We’re really excited to be taking part in the Big Pedal.

“We hope that by encouraging our children to walk, cycle and scoot to school we will see a reduction in congestion and pollution around the school gates, and help the children to feel healthier and happier.”

Malcolm Shepherd, chief executive at Sustrans said: “The average primary school journey is just 1.5 miles – the perfect distance to walk or cycle.”

To find out more about the Big Pedal see www.bigpedal.org.uk