Mayor of Winchester, Jean Hammerton, was at Perin's School, Alresford, to open its new bike shed.

The newly-installed cycle storage shelter was high on the list of priorities the school's "Travel Plan", which was created by the pupils to achieve safer and more environmentally-friendly methods of transport.

It was high on their list of priorities.

Michael Clarke, geography teacher and co-ordinator of the Travel Plan, said: "Lots of our pupils own really nice and often expensive bikes and they wanted somewhere safe to leave them.

"The new shelter is centrally located and made of clear perspex so it provides a secure and dry place for pupils to park their bikes.

"Since it was installed, the number of pupils riding to school has almost doubled and this is great because it means fewer cars coming through the school and thus a cleaner environment. Pupils will benefit healthwise, too."

The cycle shelters were funded by Hampshire County Council's Safer Routes to School programme, whose officer, Philippa Currie, said: "It's great to help out schools like Perin's where the pupils show a real interest in the environment around them. They have produced a first-class Travel Plan and I am looking forward to working with them to address the other aspects highlighted."

Other guests at the opening were governors, Richard Welland and Simon Cook; geography teacher, Michael Clarke, and pupil members of the school's Environmental Action Group, Becky Balchin, Jack Barrett, Emily Ewens, Martin Foot, Jonathan Lain, Alana Shoosmith and Hazel Tubman.