SEVENTY cyclists of all ages got on their bikes on Sunday to take part in Ride and Seek.

The event, a cycling treasure hunt, took place on the Ebury Way between Watford and Rickmansworth.

Organised by Hertfordshire County Council as part of its TravelWise campaign, the aim of the day was to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto bikes.

The scheme promoted the environmental as well as health benefits of cycling.

The Ebury Way is a 3.5-mile path, which forms part of Route 61 of the National Cycle Network.

It runs along the route of a former railway line and now acts as a green corridor for wildlife, passing through a variety of habitats including open moor, wetlands and woodland.

The cyclists who took part in the event also filled out a quiz sheet en route, answering questions about sights along the way.

At the end of the ride, everyone was rewarded with a Ride and Seek goody bag and was entered into a free prize draw.

A TravelWise representative said: "What we set out to do was to get families out and about on their bikes together.

"Cycling offers so many benefits.

"Regular cyclists enjoy fitness levels equal to that of a person who is ten years younger.

"Bicycles are obviously much cheaper than cars. You don't need to pay any road tax or have an MOT and there are no breakdown recovery services and no fuel."

For more information about cycling visit www.hertsdirect.org/travelwise.