A UNIQUE cycling venture in Poole proved to be a great success when the town played host to the only inter-school cycling league in the country.

Around 60 youngsters, aged nine to 16, took part in the races held at Poole Park.

These pictures, taken May 13, 1990, show the cyclists on one of the meets.

The league was the brainchild of the Dorset Cycling Development Group, which was funded by the Sports Council.

The group's chairman Brian Young to the Echo at the time: "It had been going very well.

"We want to develop the idea and have a national league."

He said teenagers were becoming attracted to cycling because of its "good, fairly drug-free image."