Teachers' cycle challenge to support community

The head teachers said the air ambulance is a vital resource for their rural community

The community left reeling in the aftermath of a school coach crash is coming together to raise funds for the air ambulance that played a key role in the emergency response.

Three Moorland Federation headteachers will be cycling between its eight schools in Exmoor, Somerset, joined by the father of 10-year-old Oliver Price.

Oliver died of a head injury when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.

Paul James, who was Oliver's head teacher at Dunster First School, said: "The air ambulance was an integral part of that event and such a valuable resource".

Jon Moise-Souch, head of Langford Budville Primary School, said they wanted to "show solidarity with the family, to Minehead Middle school and to the whole community which was affected by the crash".

"It's part of the whole healing process as the shock ricocheted across the whole community and county," he added.

Groups and families have left tributes and notes at the school after the crash in July

Joining Mr James, Mr Moise-Souch and Oliver's dad Matt will be Lucy Walker-Blair, headteacher at St Dubricius.

Together they will cover miles of winding Exmoor lanes and hill climbs, visiting each of the Federation's schools, starting from St Dubricius in Porlock, to Dunster, Timberscombe, Cutcombe, Exford, Dulverton Junior and All Saints Schools, finishing at Langford Budville. They will also ride past Minehead Middle School.

Children from the schools have been designing posters and banners to hold up as the cyclists pass them, as well as holding mini-fundraisers in each school.

"We're incredibly proud to see the challenge the head teachers from West Somerset are taking on in support of our life-saving work," said Charlotte Humber, supporter engagement officer for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

"Every mission we fly costs around £3,500 and with no direct government funding, initiatives like this make a real difference, especially for people in rural communities who rely on our service," she added.