AN enterprising woman took part in an epic cycle challenge to raise cash for the victims of sexual abuse while youngsters did their bit to build a better world with some eye-catching artwork.

Nicki Lloyd organised a cyclathon at Sainsbury’s in St John’s, Worcester, cycling between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Saturday.

She managed to raise £336.02 taking her closer to her fund-raising target of £10,000 – she had already raised more than £6,000 for the Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre and will cycle 415 miles over all terrains in Vietnam to raise more money for the cause.

Mrs Lloyd, of Marden, Hereford, who was joined by friends Marie Hall, Paula Barrett and Sarah Thomas, said: “Through my own life experiences I know what invaluable support and understanding the charity can provide.

“The support I’ve had from the shoppers has been fantastic. Thanks must go to Sainsbury’s for supporting the event.”

Paints, crayons, pencils, pastels and paper were all youngsters needed to create their own posters and banners at the Commandery in Sidbury for the Big Draw between 11am and 4pm on Saturday.

Children lived up to the slogan of the campaign ‘make your mark on the future’ by producing colourful paintings warning people of the dangers of global warming and the impact on wildlife.

Polly Forbes, aged 11, and her friend Jade Lilley, also 11, both pupils at King’s School in Worcester, produced ‘love the moose’ and ‘love the penguin’ posters to illustrate their concerns about the planet.

Children also had the chance to learn about others who had made their mark through protests and campaigns in the past, including the Suffragettes, the Chartists, the Luddites and about historical events like the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381.

Elsewhere, the annual Green Energy Fair, organised by Transition Worcester, took place in Worcester’s Guildhall between 11am and 3pm on Saturday.

The fair gave people the chance to talk to local businesses and discuss ways to cut down on their energy bills and use more sustainable and renewable energy supplies and help cut pollution.

Meanwhile, youngsters had their faces painted by Funky Faces and had the chance to see Looby Lou make balloon models at Cathedral Plaza on Saturday as part of work for the Business Improvement District (BID).

Looby Lou, real name Louise Jones, said: “It’s all about drawing people into the Cathedral Plaza and all the wonderful shops Worcester has to offer and about providing a bit of fun and entertainment for the children because they don’t always like going shopping with their mums and dads.”

At Worcester Warriors Rugby Club, hundreds of crocus bulbs were planted on Sunday as part of the Worcester Vigornia Rotary Club's End Polio Now campaign.

Worcester Warriors chairman Cecil Duckworth and city Mayor Councillor Mike Layland also supported the Focus on the Crocus project which will be remembered in Febrarury when the purple flowers blossom. They are a reminder of the tiny dab of colour on a child’s fingertip that indicates he or she has been inoculated against polio.

Coun Layland said: “We are really keen to prevent this disease and Rotary does a great job at this. I can’t wait to see how it looks next year.”

At the Worcestershire County Museum in Hartlebury, families were given the chance to squash apples and find out about cider making.

There were demonstrations with traditional equipment as well as a variety of stalls, music and entertainment to keep visitors happy.

Rachel Robinson, visitor services manager, said: “People have been squashing the apples and making apple juice, so hopefully soon we will also have some cider.”