PUPILS at Woodside Academy have been pedalling hard over recent weeks, competing successfully in both the national Big Pedal and the Essex Mountain Bike Tournament.

Between them, pupils made 2,779 journeys during the fortnight of the competition, placing them 88th out of 1,525 schools nationally, 19th in the East of England and first in Thurrock.

School staff encouraged participation by taking children on lunchtime rides throughout the fortnight, but the highlight was competing in the Essex School Sports first mountain biking tournament, at Danbury Park, where Woodside girls won first place.