SCHOOLS across Hounslow have been given more than £30,000 in a bid to get more pupils on their bikes.

Six schools in the borough shared a total of £34,000, awarded by Transport for London (TfL) as part of its Cycle Grants for Schools scheme.

Cranford Community College and Gunnersbury Catholic School, in Brentford, each received £9,000, while Chiswick’s Belmont Primary School was awarded £7,000.

Cavendish and Grove Park primary schools, both in Chiswick, and Wellington Primary School, in Hounslow, each received £3,000.

The funding, announced on Monday, will be used for a variety of projects to encourage cycling.

A total of 71 schools across the capital were awarded grants, with plans for the money ranging from new cycle parking facilities and safety awareness days to competitions.

Cranford Community College plans to spend the money on pool bikes for students and rewards such as free breakfasts for pupils cycling to school, as well as BMX or road cycling training.

Simon Dean, assistant headteacher at Cranford Community College, said: “We already have a number of staff who cycle to school but not enough pupils.

“Especially with the London Olympics fast approaching, we want to show students the benefits of cycling for their health and for the environment.

“We’re already working to discourage parents from driving to school and we hope this money will help us get more pupils cycling.”

Hounslow is one of 13 ‘London Biking Boroughs’ where London Mayor Boris Johnson is focusing his efforts to encourage outer-London residents to cycle.

Mr Johnson said: “We want the joys of cycling to be available to everyone, and children in outer London schools will now be able to join in, gain confidence, and perhaps inspire the rest of their families to get pedaling too.”