PARENTS of pupils at Sapperton School will be getting into the saddle for a mammoth 48-hour cycle ride to raise funds for the school.

Around 15 parents and friends aim to cycle the 240 miles from Sapperton to Paris at the end of June, hoping to raise at least £10,000 for the school and new classrooms.

Riders will set off on 28 June from Sapperton, a date chosen to coincide with the start of the Tour de France.

Winter training has started for the ride and the team is peddling around the Cotswolds at weekends to build up stamina and endurance.

Parent and cycle organiser Rob Macmichael said: “We hope to have around 15 cyclists setting off to Paris at the end of June this year. Only one of us has ever done anything like this before, so it’s a big challenge but we’re very excited about it.

“We’ll just have to remember to take plenty of food, drink and cream for the saddle sores.”

Sapperton school pupils who are inspired by their parents efforts’ will be able to get on their bikes in the Spring, when the school hopes to launch its own off-road cycling club for its students.

* To find out more about the event and to sponsor the team go to www.sappertonschool.org