SCHOOLCHILDREN have come up with winning ways to promote cycling.

They were challenged to write a letter to Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Terry Follows, describing their ideas to get more people to travel to school by bike.

The winning entry by Thomas Hollins, aged 11, from Eaton Park Primary School, suggested a bike hire system.

He also had the idea of awarding tokens to pupils every time they used their bikes to get to school, which could be exchanged for prizes.

He said: "I was excited when I first found out that I had won, because I like riding my bike with my Dad.

"My idea came to me because a lot of my friends in the class didn't have a bike so if they were able to hire one, then they could join in and be healthy."

Thomas's first prize was a new bike and helmet which was donated by Michelin through the Road Safety for Young People in Europe scheme. Six schools took part in the competition, run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and transport charity Sustrans, and more than 48 entries were received.

Second place went to Liberty Steele, aged 11, of St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Norton.

The youngster said: "My letter was about a cycle train, like a walking bus, where children and parents would meet up on the way to school. I thought of it in breakfast club because all my friends could come to school together."

Joint third place went to Houston Soper and Emily Barnett, both of Milton Primary School, and Samuel Sidley, of Greenways Primary School, Stockton Brook.

The children yesterday enjoyed a tour of the council chambers by Mr Follows after they presented him with their winning letters.

Cycling-themed goody bags were also handed out as runner-up prizes. Mr Follows, said: "We received a number of fantastic ideas which made it really difficult to decide on an overall winner.

"I want to offer my congratulations to Thomas and the other winners."

Thomas's mum Kristy Hollins, a teaching assistant from Eaton Park, said: "When I found out that he had won I was over the moon. He wrote the letter in literacy class so his teacher told me how great he had done.

"I was very proud when I read the letter, because it was persuasive."

Sustrans, which aims to help more people travel by foot, bike or public transport, donated cycle helmets as prizes.

Sustrans Bike It officer Steve Dyster said: "The aim of the competition was to get the children to look at their route to school and explain what the benefits would be to the community if they cycled instead."