PUPILS at Etonbury Middle School in Arlesey were up at the crack of dawn today to welcome Olympic rower James Cracknell and explorer and TV presenter Ben Fogle on the final leg of their 450 mile rickshaw cycle ride from Edinburgh Castle to London that sta

PUPILS at Etonbury Middle School in Arlesey were up at the crack of dawn today to welcome Olympic rower James Cracknell and explorer and TV presenter Ben Fogle on the final leg of their 450 mile rickshaw cycle ride from Edinburgh Castle to London that started on Saturday and will finish later this afternoon in the centre of the capital.

The intrepid duo, who have already rowed the Atlantic and taken part in a race to the South Pole, needed to make a detour off the A1 to avoid the motorway and made a short stop at the school at 7.45am for a swift bacon sandwich and cup of tea before getting back into the saddle and heading for London on what the pair have called a Ride for Britain to raise money for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) charity which supports servicemen and their families.

"We had about 100 children here to welcome them," said Etonbury School office manager Sue Turgoose.

"The children were thrilled to see them and they enjoyed tea and a bacon sandwich before the children waved them goodbye.