YOUNG children aged four to seven had their first experience of cycling through balance bike sessions at a Ludlow school.

Sacha Lee, school bike club co-ordinator and teaching assistant, led on the delivery of fun-filled balance-ability sessions for children at St Laurence Church of England Primary School thanks to the new fleet of balance bikes.

Funded by the Department of Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, the project aims to encourage children to choose cycling as an enjoyable, regular activity to help them stay fit and happy.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for cycling, said: “Balance bikes have proved a very effective way to help young children balance and steer, and it’s fantastic that we’re able to support the school provide activities such as this.

“Teaching children cycling skills early on is very important for their confidence and ultimately their safety.”

A successful grant application to the Local Joint Committee in 2012 enabled the popular after-school bike clubs to benefit from a set of ‘pool’ bikes. These have enabled children to participate who did not own a bike or were unable to get them to school for the sessions. The school also provides year six children with Bikeability cycle training – the new cycling proficiency.