STAFF from a Worcester-based water re-use company has notched up thousands of miles using pedal power, to raise hundreds for charity.

Aquabio, based at Ball Mill Top Business Park in Hallow, notched up an impressive 17,707 kilometres cycling during the first half of 2017, raising an impressive £442.70 for cycling charity Sustrans.

This is the first payment from Aquabio since the company instigated a cycle to work scheme as part of a wider social responsibility campaign.

The company set up the scheme, called Sustainability and Health in Future Transport, to encourage its employees to log their kilometres with Strava while cycling to work and for leisure.

And for every kilometre cycled, Aquabio donates 2.5 pence to Sustrans.

Sustrans is a charity that helps more people to walk and cycle. Initiatives include building cycling routes, working with communities, encouraging children to cycle and scooter, and helping more people to commute daily by bike.

Dan Brothwell, development and operations manager at Aquabio, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to make such an impressive first donation to a charity that so many of our employees support.

“Our cycling colleagues are both healthy and happy, a benefit to us all in the workplace, with a knock on positive impact on the projects we undertake and the service to our clients.

“Our cycle to work scheme is an excellent demonstration of how individual actions – however small – can have such a worthwhile impact.

"Congratulations to all our staff who have chosen less polluting modes of transport. We look forward to supporting Sustrans over the coming years.”

Julian Hall, director of fundraising and retail at Sustrans, added: ”I am absolutely delighted that Aquabio has not only decided to embrace cycling to work but also to incentivise it by making donations to Sustrans that in turn will help make a difference to even more people.

"It’s good for your health, the environment and of course benefits the local economy too.”