Schools in Dumbarton and the Vale are being urged to sign up for the UK's biggest cycling, walking and scooting challenge.

Organised by walking and cycling charity Sustrans, the Big Pedal 2019 runs from Monday, March 25 until Friday, April 5.

During this time, participating primary and secondary schools will compete with one another to make the most journeys by bike, foot or scooter.

As of yet, the Big Pedal's participation map showed that no local schools had registered to take part.

But TV and radio presenter Angelica Bell, who discovered her love for cycling during the Tour de Celeb in 2016 and is backing the competition, called on as many as possible to sign up.

She said: “I’m delighted to be supporting this year’s Big Pedal. It’s a fantastic way to encourage more children to cycle, walk or scoot– doing wonders for their health and the environment around them.

“I hope as many schools as possible sign up for the challenge and inspire children and families across the UK to get on their feet, scooter of bike for their journey to school.”

The Big Pedal 2019 is open to individual classes as well as whole schools, with hundreds of thousands of pupils expected to take part.

The theme this year is ‘Travelling around the body’, with pupils tracking their progress on a wall chart, learning about the human body and how active travel benefits their health as they go.

To coincide with this year’s event, dozens of schools across the UK, will for the first time, be closing the road outside the school gates to motor vehicles. This is to limit the volume of traffic and help reduce air pollution, while creating an environment in which cycling and walking is safe, convenient and enjoyable.

Lynn Stocks, head of project delivery, behaviour change, at Sustrans Scotland, said: “The Big Pedal may only run for two weeks but can leave a lasting effect on the way children travel to school by showing parents what’s possible and how easy it can be to leave the car at home for a few extra journeys a week.

“With scores of schools already confirming that they will be closing surrounding streets to cars for this year’s Big Pedal, we are confident that 2019 will be even bigger and better than 2018 and demonstrate how people prioritised streets can create a much more pleasant and safer environment for children and parents to travel.”

For schools unable to take part in the main challenge there is also a one-day version, which can include cycling, walking and scooting activities during the school day as well as on the journey to school.

Schools and classes will be entered into daily prize draws for rewards, including scooters, if more than 15 per cent of a school cycle, walk or scoot on each day of the challenge.

Ask your child’s school to sign up to Sustrans Big Pedal 2019. For more information visit bigpedal.org.uk