BIKES have helped babies thanks to the strenuous efforts of two men from Sutton’s parish church.

The curate of St Thomas’s Church and the vicar’s husband were sponsored to cycle 150 miles along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath.

The Rev Brian Greenfield and Simon Collings took to the saddle to mark the 150th anniversary of the church.

They raised £1,800 to be shared equally between two causes important to the local community.

The first 75 miles, from Kildwick to Parbold, raised money for POPI (Pass on Pre-Loved Items) which collects and distributes donations of second-hand items for babies from vulnerable and advantaged families in the Keighley area.

The muscle-crunching 75-mile return trip brought in money for the church itself to fund community activities such as the recently-formed Games & Grub club.

The Rev Helen Collings, the Sutton vicar, said: “Brian and Simon’s ride was supported by members of the church, local schools and the wider local community.”

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people, and want to thank everyone who supported Brian and Simon.

“The money raised will go towards maintaining the beautiful Victorian building and enable us to run more activities for the benefit of the community, such as the recently formed Games and Grub club.

“During its 150-year history the church has played a central role in village life and is now seeking new ways in which it can support our community. Yet, St Thomas’s future is vulnerable as running costs now exceed income.”

Brian and Simon this month presented £900 to Samantha Craven, chairman of POPI.

She said: “We were so touched when Simon and Brian said they’d like to help POPI with a sponsored bike ride. They raised a phenomenal amount which will make a huge difference to the families we support.

“The money will be used to buy essential items such as cot mattresses, safety gates and nappies for vulnerable families. We are so very grateful that POPI was chosen and recognised as such a worthy cause.”

POPI operates on a referral basis and has seen a massive demand for its services over recent years.

The money raised by Brian and Simon will go towards POPI’s running costs, such as rent for its storage facility, and purchase of items that can’t be passed on such as mattresses.

In the late 17th century Sutton-in-Craven became part of the ancient parish of Kildwick so all residents were baptised, married and buried at Kildwick Parish Church.

In 1869 Sutton was constituted as a separate ecclesiastical district. Building a church for the new parish started in 1868 and its consecration day was the feast of St Thomas on December 21, 1869.