PEOPLE brave enough to cycle up one of Bradford on Avon’s steepest hills are being encouraged to put their money where their mouth is ahead of next weekend’s cycling festival.

Nearly 100 people are expected to make the 500m climb from the Swan Hotel to the Castle Inn Pub which will see Masons Lane be closed for up to an hour on the day.

Charlotte Forrester, who is organising the hill climb said: “I think we are getting a few more entries coming in as we get closer to the festival and we have 15 kids already signed up for a mini hill climb too.

“The cycling festival is a community event so we have tried to include something for everyone whether you are a competitive or sporting cyclist or just one that wants to take part to raise money.”

The first-time event will see brave competitors challenged to cycle non-stop up the steep terrain but to keep the atmosphere buzzing, organisers have arranged for the Jamma de Samba band to meet cyclists on the corner.

Teams are also being encouraged to take part alongside the children’s race – a 100m alternative to the enduring ride.

Miss Forrester added: “I think the climb will be hard but at the end of the day it is a bit of fun and I think the hardest part will be getting to the corner on Masons Lane which is why we are going to have a samba band there which will hopefully encourage the cyclists to carry on.

"There will also be loads of people lining the street cheering them to reach the finishing line too.”

The Cycling Festival will be spread across next weekend and will see a whole host of family-friendly events take place to celebrate all things bicycles – something the town has become renowned for.

Highlights will include a cyclo-cross – a fast and furious ride through the woods – as well as a Moulton Bike exhibition in The Vaults.

Miss Forrester added that she hopes families take full advantage of the road closure as it will allow children to go play “like the olden days” by painting and drawing on the road.

She said: “We are trying to get people back into the town and we will have lots of things to do in and around the centre which will also be beneficial for the businesses as well.”

To take part in the hill climb, competitors are asked to contribute £5.

For more information, visit www.bradfordonavoncyclingfestival.co.uk