Mums, dads and even their young children got on their bikes and the town centre streets were closed off for them for the first ever Bury Goes Biking event.

East Anglian Daily Times: The four generations taking part in the Bury Goes Biking event. Great grandmother Sheila Drew, in the ricksaw with her granddaughter Sarah Abbott and her son Oakley with Roger Drew on bicycle. Picture: RUSSELL COOKThe four generations taking part in the Bury Goes Biking event. Great grandmother Sheila Drew, in the ricksaw with her granddaughter Sarah Abbott and her son Oakley with Roger Drew on bicycle. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

Hundreds of people, including four generations and a man on a penny farthing, took part in the ride today which was started on Angel Hill by the mayor and deputy mayor of St Edmundsbury Margaret Marks and Patrick Chung and went on a route through to Bridlewell Lane, Westgate Street, Whiting Street, Cornhill and Abbeygate Street before finishing back where it started.

The event was made possible through a partnership between Abbeycroft Leisure and Bury St Edmunds Town Council, who have provided funding for the event, the Palmer Group and St Nicholas Hospice with support from St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk Wheelers and Ashtons Legal.

But they had to negotiate pedestrains along Abbeygate Street as they mingled with the cyclists.

The four generations featured 84-year-old great grandmother Sheila Drew, her 58-year-old son Roger, his daughter Sarah Abbott, 28, and her son Oakley, aged 21 months.

East Anglian Daily Times: Cyclists coming down Abbeygate Street in the Bury Goes Biking event. Picture: RUSSELL COOKCyclists coming down Abbeygate Street in the Bury Goes Biking event. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

Roger, who lives in Mendlesham, said the family regularly visit his mother who lives at The Martins Care Home, in The Vinefields, in Bury, along with his daughter from Stowmarket, and saw details of the biking event the previous week while visiting the town.

“My mother has been in the rickshaw before and we thought it would be nice to use it again,”

He cycled with a trailer containing his grandson.

“This is a great opportunity for us all to get involved and great that the roads have been closed and is so family friendly,” he added.

East Anglian Daily Times: Bill Ives with his penny farthign in the Bury Goes Biking event. Picture: RUSSELL COOKBill Ives with his penny farthign in the Bury Goes Biking event. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

Bill Ives, who lives in Victoria Street, in Bury, got out his penny farthing for the ride.

He said: “Stopping and starting is a bit of a struggle and you have to be aware of getting on it. But this is a great event.”

The name of the event was the idea of eight-year-old Joseph Harden, from Abbots Green Primary School, in Airfield Road, on the Moreton Hall Estate.

He said: “As soon as my teacher told us about the competition, I knew the name I wanted to enter, because it’s in Bury and it’s all about biking.”

Town councillor Jo Rayner, who is also St Edmundsbury Borough Council member for leisure and culture, added: “This is a great initiative that I am very pleased to support.”