Students from Sir John Lawes Secondary School in Harpenden were among more than 700 schoolchildren to enjoy exclusive access to coaching at London 2012 legacy venue, Lee Valley VeloPark.

The four day sporting festival is taking place at the venue on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park giving students the chance to take part in a variety of cycling events for free.

Students were invited from more than 100 schools from throughout Hertfordshire, Essex and London.

The event was hosted by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority which owns and runs the venue, and is part of a long standing programme giving schoolchildren opportunities to enjoy sport for free in inspirational surroundings.

The students had coached sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark, which is the only venue in the world where the public can take part in the four Olympic and Paralympic cycling disciplines in one place: track in the iconic London 2012 velodrome, BMX on the remodelled Olympic track, road cycling on the one-mile road circuit and mountain biking on five miles of trails.

Sir John Lawes PE teacher Natasha Hayden said: "This year we won the St Albans and District Sporting School of the Year award. We get involved in everything and give our young people the opportunity to the try every sport they can.

"Coming to Lee Valley VeloPark is a fantastic opportunity, which may only come to them once in their lifetimes. They’re exhausted and they’ve worked their heart off in every activity, but they’ve thoroughly enjoyed it."