YOUNGSTERS who won a competition after ditching the car to cycle to school enjoyed a daredevil mountain bike show as their reward.

Pupils from Sedgefield Primary School and St John’s Primary School, in Shildon, were winners in The Big Pedal competition run by the biking charity Sustrans.

The challenge sought to encourage youngsters to cycle or scoot to school.

Officers for Sustrans picked the two schools whose pupils had pedalled the most miles to school as the winners for the Durham section.

Pupils from St John’s and Sedgefield primary schools enjoyed a show by the Extreme Mountain Bike show as a prize for coming top.

The mountain bikers were led by multiple British and European trials bike champion Danny Butler.

Reverend David Tomlinson, chairman of the governors at St John’s, said: “The Big Pedal is designed to encourage children to cycle and scoot to school.

“The visit by Danny Butler was a way of saying thank you for their efforts.”

North-East pupils racked up 380,000 miles travelling to and from school, or more than 15 trips round the world, during the three week national competition.

Nationally during the Sustrans’ The Big Pedal youngsters cycled or scooted 1.4 million miles.

Marcus Watson, Sustrans’ schools officer, said: “The Big Pedal is a great incentive for families to get more active.

“When cycling and scooting are incorporated into daily routines they can play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of children.”