A PEDALLING PC has stormed into the lead in the 2014 Cycle Challenge.

The Cycle Challenge is designed to get people on their bikes commuting to work with an award going to the person who notches up the most miles.

At the half way stage, PC Ian Hansen, from South Cumbria Road Policing Unit, is leading the way having covered 1,172 miles.

He only lives a couple of minutes away from work but he has been deliberately taking longer routes to 'get the miles in'.

PC Hansen said: "As police officers we have to pass an annual fitness test which gets that bit harder as the years roll by. I’ve also got a young family that I’m keen to be able to keep up with as they and I get older. I used to do a fair bit of running but that’s quite hard on the knees so a couple of years ago a friend and colleague introduced me to cycling and sold me a second-hand bike.”

Having showers, changing facilities and safe storage at his workplace has enabled PC Hansen to commit to the challenge.

While PC Hansen tops the individual miles charts there are still a range of other prize categories up for grabs including the team that completes the most journeys on their bike, the new cyclist with the most trips and the most interesting and amusing team name.

For more information visit : www.southlakes-cyclechallenge.co.uk