HUNDREDS of cyclists took part in an inaugural event in aid of sick newborn babies.

An estimated 700 people completed the Cotswold Crank Up which had 25-mile, 50-mile or 80-mile routes starting from Witney’s Henry Box School.

It was the brainchild of Richard Best, who has organised similar events in Oxford and Bath with his organisation Iconic Cycling.

Cyclists could choose to raise money for a chosen charity, one of which was Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents, based at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

Mr Best said he wanted to raise the profile of cycling in the Cotswolds. He said: “It brings cyclists of all ages and abilities together to ride the marked routes.

“We were out yesterday marking each route for the riders to follow, so it was a lot of hard work. We think it is a fantastic number of cyclists for the Cotswolds and it shows what an appetite there is for cycling in the area.”

The cyclists were still to count up how much had been raised at Sunday’s event.