THE Sapperton community came together at Sapperton Primary School to give a great welcome to a group of 11 intrepid cyclists returning from an epic 36-hour fundraising cycle ride from Paris.

Dads, governors and friends of the school set off from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in a bid to raise £12,000 for new school classrooms and a sensory machine for a children’s oncology unit at a local hospital.

Their return was extra sweet as they found out that they had smashed their fundraising target and raised at least £15,000.

Parent and cycle organiser Rob Macmichael said: "None of us had ever done anything like this before. A long distance cycle used to mean cycling to the local pub.”

The cyclists have been training since January and covered over 2,000 miles each in order to complete the challenge in such a short time.

Mr Macmichael said: “We all stuck at it and by the time we stood at the Arc de Triomphe ready for the cycle home, the Parisian drivers were our biggest worry. We got a great reception at the school and it was fantastic to see so many of the children, parents and local residents there.”

The money raised will go towards completing two classrooms at Sapperton school and will buy outright a sensory stimulation machine for the Emily Kent Paediatric Unit at Gloucester Hospial.

* Visit their Facebook page 'Paris to Sapperton 2013' to find out more or donate at www.sapperton.ncpta.net