Two teachers have set off on an ambitious expedition to cycle to the Arctic Circle during the school summer holidays.

Ernest Bevin College teachers Dale Dappah and Lisa Baum left the Tooting school on the morning of July 15 to start their 1,600 mile journey North - and were joined by 15 boys from the college cycling on the borough's new Cycle Superhighway Eight up to Westminster.

The pair cycled out of London and travelled 80 miles to Harwich in their first two days before catching a ferry to the Netherlands. There, they planned to ride through to Germany, Denmark and Norway.

The duo aim to cross the Arctic Circle in mid-August and continue into a national park so they can film a glacier, before finishing their expedition in the town of BØdo.

Ms Baum said: “As individuals we enjoy a personal challenge and felt that this expedition is something that would stretch us. We hope our students will follow our expedition online and it will in turn inspire them to explore their horizons.”

Mr Dappah said: “We are also hoping to encourage more students to take up cycling. It is a great way of keeping fit and also a great way of travelling and getting about.”

They are also raising funds for the South London Motor Neurone Trust and Teenage Cancer Trust through a Virgin money giving site at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/cycletothecircle.

To follow their progress visit www.cycle2thecircle.com.