THE cool was put into cycling with the opening of a new bike shed at Homefield Primary School this week.The occasion was celebrated with a cycling rap performed by the Bradwell school's Bike It champions - a group of pupils who spread the word about cycling.

THE cool was put into cycling with the opening of a new bike shed at Homefield Primary School this week.

The occasion was celebrated with a cycling rap performed by the Bradwell school's Bike It champions - a group of pupils who spread the word about cycling.

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans provided nearly �7,000 towards the cost of their new covered storage for thirty bikes.

The rest of the funding came from Norfolk County Council as part of an award for completing a school travel plan.

This sets out ways the school will reduce car use and congestion on the school run and ways of promoting walking and cycling to school.

The school has already held a bike breakfast and a Dr Bike session, where over 60 children took their bikes to school to get them checked.

Headteacher Elizabeth Davis said: "The original cycle storage was built in 1960 and now that we are involved in the 'Bike It' project to get more children cycling to school, we needed more space for their bikes.

“The children want to cycle to school and we would like them to do so to increase their health and fitness and also reduce congestion outside the school."

Borough councillor for Bradwell Graham Plant said: "Norfolk was the first county in the country to have a travel plan for every school, but it is how that plan is turned into action that really matters.

“Homefield Primary has developed a real enthusiasm for cycling among its pupils, and I am delighted that, with the welcome support from Sustrans, they now have better covered storage for bicycles."