Young Hexham cyclist rewarded after charity race

Five lucky young cyclists are celebrating after winning prizes by taking part in the Velvet Junior Bike Race 2009 - and raising more than £300 for charity.

They were entered into a prize draw as part of the charity bike ride in March, which was sponsored by toilet tissue firm Velvet and hosted by tissue manufacturer SCA Hygiene Products of Prudhoe. Dan Southern, four, from Hexham won a grow your own vegetable garden kit, and Robyn Franklin, aged six, from Stocksfield, and Ben Pentland, six, from Ryton, both won mountain bikes. Emily Ward, nine, from Stocksfield, won an angling taster day and James Franklin, four, from Stocksfield, won a grown your own salad kit.

The prizes were donated by Velvet, Activ Cycles of Corbridge and Northumbrian Water. The money raised from the event went to The Penguin Fund at Newcastle Freeman Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit. The fund was set up after three-year-old Martha Andersen from Edmundbyers received life-saving treatment at the unit.