An excited young cyclist will open a new section of the Great Northern Railway Trail this weekend.

Thornton Primary School pupil Shayden Prajapati will be using the cycle route that runs alongside the new Miller Homes development on Woodsley Fold that her family have recently moved into.

She will be the star guest at the new section’s official opening ceremony on Saturday at 3pm.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council’s executive member for Planning, Transport and Housing, said: “We have always been supportive of the Great Northern Railway Trail over the years and were pleased to be able to work with Sustrans and Miller Homes on this scheme that will deliver great benefits to people living on the nearby new development.

“We are also delighted that this scheme was partly-funded by the developer as part of the planning conditions.

“The trail can be used for cycling and walking in open countryside and provides access to the magnificent Thornton Viaduct.”

Steve McElroy, sales director for Miller Homes Yorkshire, said: “As part of our development on Thornton Road in Thornton, we redirected a section of Pinch Beck which runs along the bottom of this site, to help create an existing right of way.

“The newly-created footpath forms part of the Great Northern Railway Trail developed by Bradford Council and Sustrans who are instrumental in delivering green transport routes to promote cycling and walking.

“A number of our residents have already benefited from access to the trail, with some even being able to use the cycle route as their daily commute to work.

“It’s also great to see the local community being able to access and enjoy a fantastic heritage route as part of their recreational activities.”

Sustrans, the national cycling charity, heads up the local partnership with support from the Council and other members of the Great Northern Railway Trail Forum.

David Hall of Sustrans said: “The new residents of Woodsley Fold now have a direct link onto this wonderful trail, providing an enviable walking and cycling experience away from traffic where the quality of the local countryside, and magnificence of the old railway route can be fully appreciated.