YOUNGSTERS from Miserden School are enjoying the wonders of pedal power.

Under the guidance of Stuart Rochford, a mountain leader and cycling instructor, the children are being taught how to ride bikes as part of their PE lessons.

Once the children have improved their bike skills in the playground they then have the chance to tear around the fields, woods and streams in Miserden Park. And each lesson culminates in pupils whizzing through a ford running through the woods, known as the 'splash'.

Claire Coles-Jones, chairman of Miserden School Friends Association, which supports the schools, said: “They absolutely love it, they really look forward to it. They all work really hard to get their bicycle skills sorted so they can go out in the park.”

She explained that the lessons would not be possible without the help of major Tom Wills, who owns Miserden Park as he has given the school permission to conduct lessons in the park.

She added that the mountain bike lessons only became a reality because the children requested them.

She said: “This is what the children wanted to do. They asked for it. They (teachers) asked them what exiting things they wanted to do.

“Jacquie Sollars, the headteacher, values the importance of balancing hard work in class and letting off steam through exercise for children of all ages.”