SCHOOLCHILDREN have been enjoying a refreshing twist to their daily cycle at a Castle primary school.

Teams of pupils at Charles Darwin Primary School have been jumping on a smoothie bike to turn their pedalling action into a drink packed with a fruity five-a-day.

The school, in Darwin Street, has been working with sustainable transport charity Sustrans to showcase the different opportunities offered by cycling, and the ‘fender blender’ was a fun way to get pupils in the saddle.

Sarah Diamond, from Sustrans, said: “They absolutely love it.

“Even if they don’t like the smoothie, they like to have a go pedalling.”

Headteacher Adam Croft said: “I couldn’t believe how fast it was to make a smoothie, and it’s a lot quieter than the one at home.”

Sustrans is working with Cheshire West and Chester Council and schools and colleges in the Hartford campus to encourage people to walk and cycle more and reduce congestion.

Charles Darwin Primary School has hosted a Dr Bike session and bike skills workshops as part of the programme, and also boasts a cycling shelter funded by Sustrans.

Mr Croft said: “We’re really keen – we’ve always done Bikeability and this is just extending that across the age groups.

“We want to work together with Sustrans and highways to make the area around school as safe as possible.”