THREE members of a local cycling group officially opened a new track and skills area at the Cannop Cycle Centre.

Toby Grindle, Matthew Lade and Gryffydd Sheppard, of Little Fodders, opened the pump track and skills area.

A pump track consists of banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders ‘pumping’, creating momentum by body movements.

The project has been designed and built by local rider Rob Breakwell with the help and support of the Dean Trail Volunteers, Pedalabikeaway and Fly up Downhill.

Alongside the pump track are two short downhill training lines with trail features that have been built and named by members of Little Fodders.

The Little Whippet is a progressive jump line of table tops with expert line options while Never Never Land has sizeable drop-offs that increase in height with an optional ‘bail out’ line half way down.

Judith Lack, the Forestry Commission’s local recreation manager said: “It was great to work with the Dean Trail Volunteers, Pedalabikeaway and Fly up Downhill on realising this project”

“A pump track and skills area was the most requested feature in the visitor survey carried out on site last year.”