YOUNGSTERS in Barnoldswick put the wheels in motion to celebrate the Aviva Tour of Britain coming through Pendle - by forming a human bicycle.

Pupils at Coates Lane Primary School created the human sculpture earlier this month to gear up for stage two of the event, which passes through West Craven on Monday, September 7.

Nicola Boon, acting deputy headteacher and the school's PE co-ordinator, said the children were getting excited to see the world’s cycling stars passing minutes away from the front gates of their school.

She said: “Having watched the Tour de France last year I’m so excited about the Tour of Britain coming to Pendle.

“We’re only a five-minute walk away from the route so we’re planning to take at least three classes to watch the cyclists fly past.

“And the pupils will be waving flags that they’ve made to cheer on the cyclists.”

Around 90 pupils and six teachers will recreate the bicycle sculpture on the field next to the school.

"Half of the kids will be cheering on the riders and the other half will be making a human bicycle in the school field," said Mrs Boon.

She added that Coates Lane pupils had been competing head to head against other schools in a virtual bike time trial competition associated with the Tour of Britain.

Stage two of the tour, which goes through Ribble Valley and Pendle, starts beneath Clitheroe Castle and comes to a climax in Colne town centre as the cyclists battle to cross the finish line.

Pendle Council is urging schools across the borough to get behind the tour and give the cyclists a warm welcome.

Councillor David Whipp, chairman of Pendle’s Tour of Britain working group, said: “It’s fantastic that Coates Lane Primary School is taking on this challenge.

"It’s a great example of the fun activities connected with the race," he added. “It will be filmed from a helicopter and broadcast around the world.”

Thousands of people are expected to line the route across Pennine Lancashire.