A Tooting school teacher who braved a 1,500-mile bike challenge to the Arctic Circle is encouraging youngsters to cycle to school.

Lisa Baum, who teaches Geography at Ernest Bevin School, in Beechcroft Road, is now back from the trip which earned her a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship.

On the route she stopped to make video clips focusing on the environment, culture, history and the challenges of the expedition.

The team averaged about 50 miles per day and reached the Arctic Circle in just under six weeks.

Miss Baum said: "We encountered severe weather for most of the way, especially in Norway which experienced its wettest summer for over 50 years.

"I think we only had six days in the whole trip when it didn't rain which made the trip all the more challenging. However, kind acts by strangers and the beautiful scenery made it all worthwhile.

"It was a very happy moment when we reached the monument which marks the Arctic Circle and symbolised our journey's end."

As part of the challange goal, 15 pupils and staff accompanied Lisa on the first leg of her journey into central London.

The trip also raised more than £2,000 for the South London Motor Neurone Trust and Teenage Cancer Trust.