THE boss of the organisation which spearheaded the successful bid to bring the Tour de France Grand Depart to Yorkshire has opened a new facility at Oxenhope Primary School.

Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, cut the ribbon to open the safe bike storage shed at the school last Thursday morning. (June 11)

Oxenhope was itself on the route of the Grand Depart, and the school has been exploiting the presence and aftermath of the world's greatest sporting race to encourage more of its pupils to take up cycling and to ride or scoot to school.

Commenting on last week's opening, deputy head John Parkin said: "It was amazing. The sun was out and it was one of those glorious mornings where everything just came together.

"Mr Verity saw the bike shed, spoke to the children about how impressed he was and said he was proud to be here.

"Over 60 children came to school on their bikes that morning, so many that we couldn't fit all the bikes in!

"I was speaking to Mr Verity about possibly doing further fundraising for more bike hoops when Aire Valley Forge - who supplied the existing hoops - said they were willing to donate an extra set which would double our capacity.

"At the moment we can just about fit 30 bikes in, but with these extra hoops we could easily manage 60."

Mr Parkin explained that the pupils had fundraised to collect enough money to develop the secure bike shed.

Activities included a raffle – featuring prizes donated by Aire Valley Cycles and Carter Sports – a stall on Millennium Green during Oxenhope Fete and a gruelling race undertaken by Mr Parkin to boost the total even further.

He took part in the 2014 Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc, a 105-mile race which started and finished in Chamonix.

He and the pupils together raised more than £1,000.

Tour de France related memorabilia has been installed inside the shed, including a giant letter 'O' from a Welcome to Yorkshire sign, a yellow-coloured bike, art work completed for the shop window of Keighley's Aire Valley Cycles and donated art from local families.

Mr Parkin added: "People are already commenting on how we've transformed this space. It's a true legacy and is a lasting impact from the Tour de France, providing us with an opportunity to make a difference to the sporting lives of children at our school.

"Numbers joining the local cycling club are up, as are the numbers of children, and parents, coming to school on their bikes, skateboards and scooters."