STAFF from a Bromsgrove school marked the 80th anniversary of its special wartime bond with a Welsh town with a gruelling bike ride.

At the start of the Second World War, Bromsgrove School moved to Llanwrtyd Wells after its school buildings had been requisitioned by the Ministry of War.

Hotels became dormitories and the Abernant Lake Hotel at Llanwrtyd Wells became Bromsgrove School’s main home for four years during World War II.

It took 60 vans to move the school lock, stock and barrel - including pianos, goalposts, bedding and blackboards - along with 240 pupils.

As the war intensified, parents of younger boys wanted to send their children too so Bromsgrove Junior School - later to become Bromsgrove Prep - opened in September 1940 in the Welsh town.

It began with just 16 pupils but now has more than 500 and while the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed any 80th anniversary celebration plans, school staff still wanted to mark the milestone.

Organised by Gareth Jones, the Prep School’s head of boys' PE, 14 cyclists, all members of school staff, took on the challenge of riding from Llanwrtyd Wells to Bromsgrove, with four riders even completing a round trip of 180 miles.

Mr Jones said: "To cycle from where we were based in Llanwrtyd Wells back to Bromsgrove was a symbolic thing to do.

“Four staff managed to cycle both ways, a staggering 180 miles, which is quite a feat. A great day was had by all."