Circus tricks have serious message in Necton

IT may have seemed like just a bit of clowning around but youngsters at a mid-Norfolk primary school learnt some valuable cycle safety skills while having fun with some rather wacky bikes.

IT may have seemed like just a bit of clowning around but youngsters at a mid-Norfolk primary school learnt some valuable cycle safety skills while having fun with some rather wacky bikes.

With cycles where the seat bobbed up and down and bikes where the steering went the wrong way the pedals were wonky, children at Necton Primary School enjoyed a cycle circus yesterday.

But while getting to grips with the weird bikes and racing round in three wheeled go-carts may have been fun the youngsters were also picking up some valuable cycling advice as well.

Don Saunders, from Swaffham Family Action, who organised the event in conjunction with the police and other agencies, said: 'The idea is that it is fun but that it also helps the youngsters gain confidence and skills in cycling.

'The skills will be transferable when they take to the road themselves on bikes.

'We are also hoping this might encourage more youngsters to cycle to school.'

The children were all issued with packs on how to cycle safely and with information on how to devise a safe cycle route to school.

The event was sponsored by Foresters, an international financial services organisation which has a charity arm that promotes community involvement.