A NEW cycling facility at a Darlington primary school has inspired the headteacher to learn to ride a bicycle.

David Hayllar, headteacher of Heathfield Primary School, said: "I can't think why I didn't learn as a child, because my brothers and sisters did.

"But then as I got older, it became more and more difficult to acquire the skill, and it got to a point where I thought two wheels was just not a good idea for me."

However, this is all about to change with cycle lessons that coincide with the installation of bike sheds at the school, aimed at encouraging more pupils to cycle to school.

Darlington Borough Council, through the Local Transport Plan, has funded the cycle shelter, which cost £8,000 and will accommodate 24 bikes.

The school is one of only three in the town involved in the Bike It campaign, run by Sustrans and aimed at encouraging children to ride their bikes.

Vicky Hill, from Sustrans, said that as well as providing the bike sheds, she will also be working with children in school to teach them about the benefits of cycling, as well as providing training to enable pupils aged nine to 11 years to cycle to school safely.

It is part of a Government initiative to improve health and reduce the number of cars on the roads.

She said: "David confessed he couldn't ride a bike, so Darlington council's road safety and cycle training team have offered to train him over the summer so he can train with the children at the school in the autumn."