Staff at a Norfolk school have put their summer holiday plans on hold by embarking on a 170 mile sponsored cycle ride.

The 12 teachers and support staff at Long Stratton High School will begin the three day west to east pedal from Morecombe to Bridlington today.

The charity cyclists are set to raise more than �2,000 for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge - a good cause that helped the child of one of the teachers earlier this year.

The son of IT teacher David Wilkinson was rushed to the hospital in January with suspected meningitis.

With the care of the staff at the intensive care unit, Thomas survived to celebrate his ninth birthday on the ward and is now back at school full-time and playing sport after making a recovery.

School staff will be saying thank you to the life-saving department with the fundraising coast-to-coast ride from Lancashire to North Humberside.

Leigh Rice, one of the participants, said they had been in serious training for the last six month with help from the Iceni Velo Cycle Club in Norwich for the Way of The Roses cycle ride over the Pennines.

'There are a few of us who are quite keen cyclists and the rest enjoy it and are quite sporty. It is nice to do it as a group and raise money in the process,' he said.

Pupils at Long Stratton High also raised more than �600 for the hospital.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/john-wilson10