Bicycle bus for children in Warwick Gates and Whitnash is raising money for Children in Need

On Friday (November 13) Simon Storey, who runs the scheme, is going to donate £3 per child on the bicycle bus that day.

And John Atkins Cycles, who not only are offering ten per cent off and a free bike safety check to the bicycle bus users, is going to match Simon's £3 per child making £6 per child.

When Simon told the regular bicycle bus riders one of the parents, Andrew Owen, said he will match Simon's £3 per child making £9 per child.

And volunteer ride leader Dawn Rahman is also matching the donation so the scheme will be donating a total of £12 per child.

Simon said: "All parents and children have to do to put £12 in Pudsey's piggy bank is ride to school on the bicycle bus on Friday.

" That's it, no sitting in a bath full of baked beans, no sponsored silence for 24 hours, just ride to school.

"I would like to get ten kids on the bicycle bus on Friday, that would be a fantastic £90 for children in need.

"So come on, Pudsey needs you, do your bit sign up at www.thebicyclebus.co.uk."

Simon is a keen cyclist as well as a British cycling coach at Stratford juniors cycling club.

'Bicycle bus' is when a designated 'lead cyclist' picks up children and parents along a planned route and the group cycles to school together.

The initiative, which officially launched on October 2, runs between Warwick Gates and Whitnash with drop off points at three schools.Simon hopes this initiative will encourage more families to cycle to school.

He said: "With child obesity, air quality, congestion and inconsiderate parking at the forefront, cycling to school is a great way to tackle all of these issues as well as giving a boost to physical and mental well-being.

"I really want to get across to people the benefits of cycling, both physically and mentally, also cycling to school with your child is a real bonding experience.

"The government are investing in active travel schemes and I want to improve the route we take to make it as accessible and safe as possible."

For more about the bicycle bus visit https://thebicyclebus.co.uk/