A NEW first-of-its-kind community festival got its wheels in motion at the weekend.

Locals and visitors flocked to volunteer-led Kendal Cycling Festival, where the sport was put into focus.

Organisers wanted to show cycling as a simple, practical step in reducing carbon emissions, as well as contributing to a healthier lifestyle and being an enjoyable recreational activity.

Stuart Lockton, festival manager from the organising group Wellbeing Westmorland CIC, said: “We would love festival-goers to leave thinking that they can make a small change to their lifestyles by using their bike more and their car less – it really is a very achievable step that most of us are able to make."

As part of the festival, attendees enjoyed talks from Laura Moss and Kate Rawles, world record-breaking cyclist Jenny Graham and ex-pro mountain biker and Scottish cycling ambassador Lee Craigie. Cycling films were also shown at the event, opened by Kendal Mayor Doug Rathbone, who arrived by tandem.

There were also e-bike and adapted bike demos on Stricklandgate and a pop-up pump track at Abbot Hall Park.

Events stretched into the evening with performances from Drum Nation and local DJ, Kin.

Plans are already afoot for next year's festival with a programme being drawn up to support cycling throughout the year.

The festival was supported by Kendal Town Council, Kendal BID and Brucie's Bikes. It also received funding from Cumbria Action for Sustainability Community Carbon Fund, Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Community Foundation.