KIND-HEARTED staff at a SPAR store in Bromsgrove raised more than £450 for ChildLine by holding a sponsored in-store cycle.

For 12 hours, colleagues from the Broad Street branch took shifts on static bike and covered an incredible distance in order to raise money to support the charity.

Sandra Woakes, Blakemore Retail trainee manager who helped to organise the event, said: “We are thrilled to have raised so much to help vulnerable children and young people.

“It was hard work spinning our way through the day but our customers were so generous in their donations that all the effort was worth it. We are now preparing for our 12 hour zumbathon which is due to take place in a couple of weeks.”

The money is being donated to the NSPCC ChildLine Schools Service, a ground-breaking scheme set up to give primary school children the awareness they need to recognise abuse and to seek help.

Maribeth Lloyds, NSPCC corporate partnerships fundraising manager, said: “I would like to thank all the staff who took part in the event and a huge thanks for local customers who also gave their support.

“The event has been a real success, raising a fantastic amount for children, and that’s thanks to the commitment and generosity of everyone involved. The money raised will really help us keep children safe from harm, giving them a brighter, happier future.”

SPAR has been working in partnership with the NSPCC and ChildLine for around eight years in that time they have raised more than £4 million to support the organisation which helps thousands of children and young people every year.

ChildLine Schools Service hold assemblies and smaller classroom-based workshops to help children to understand abuse and give them the confidence to talk about it.

By 2016, the charity aims to reach 1.7m UK children through 25,000 school visits.