Pedal-powered pupils in Bingley are celebrating being named the most enthusiastic young cyclists in the county.

Up to 85 of the children at bike-friendly Crossflatts Primary School regularly cycle from home - more than at any other school in West Yorkshire.

Only four children cycled a year ago, but a remarkable growth in interest began when the Morton Lane school was linked directly to the nearby National Cycle Network.

It meant children aged from three to 11 years could follow the scenic route along the nearby Leeds and Liverpool canal towpath and turn off on to a purpose-built path leading straight into school.

"There's a real buzz around school about cycling," said teacher Isobel Roberts. "The opening of the path into school has been an amazing catalyst. It's meant children and parents can avoid the roads and have a really pleasant ride in.

"Sustrans, which runs the network, asked if we could be linked to the towpath and it's really paid off."

Now pupils cycle in from across the area, arriving from Riddlesden, Sandbeds, Crossflatts and Oakwood Estate in Bingley.

The school has fully embraced the cycling lifestyle, appointing Isobel and physical education co-ordinator Alison Taylor as Cycling Champs to encourage pupils on to bicycles.

"We run a club that gets year four pupils prepared for their cycling proficiency test in year five," said Miss Taylor.

"We do fun exercises such as cycling slowly around markers and dropping bean bags at set points. It's about helping the children become confident on their bikes."

Mrs Roberts said they encouraged parents to work out a safe route to school and offered help where needed.

Sam Curran, ten, who spends ten minutes cycling to school almost every day, said: "It's better than going in the car because you get exercise."

Ten-year-old Thomas Goodings used to walk from home, but now cycles two minutes to school.

"It's more fun on your bike. Going in the car is a bit boring," he said.

The cycle network link-up began when Sustrans chose the school and 39 others across the country to take part in its Bike-It project to encourage bicycle use.

As a reward for the achievement, cycle shelter company Lock It Safe has donated two new shelters to the school.

The shelters bear the school logo and will be unveiled on Monday.

West Yorkshire Police will also attend with Chris Leech, school liaison manager from Northern Rail, to fit electronic security tags on the children's bikes, paid for by Bradford Council.

Children from Myrtle Park Primary School, Bingley's other Bike-It school, which is showing a good increase in cycling, will be cycling to Crossflatts to join in.

As well as building the cycle path, the green transport group donated two bicycles which two lucky pupils won in a raffle.

"We just love cycling," said Mrs Roberts. "It's such a wonderful feeling leaving on your bike and having that chance to think about things in peace and quiet."

Vicki Hill, Bike-It schools officer, described the school as a phenomenon.

"Bike-It was set up to try and encourage parents and teachers to get children cycling," she said.

"No other school I know has worked so hard to show it really can be done. We've got 30 per cent of all the children cycling to school. In most schools it's one per cent - if any."