CYCLIST Benjamin Peatfield helped the North West to a bronze medal at the 2018 national School Games.

The Bolton rider produced a string of impressive performances despite being one of the youngest taking part in the under-16s competition.

He was part of an eight-strong North West line-up – four boys and four girls – competing against 11 other teams from all over Great Britain at the three-day event in Derby and Loughborough.

The youngest boy in his team at just 14, he played a starring role in the North West's success.

The first day took place on the track at Derby Velodrome and, after his team finished fifth in track skills, Peatfield was second overall in the scratch race – the highest-placed member of his team who also had the third and fourth place finishers.

He was then eighth overall in the elimination race followed by the North West claiming fourth in the team mechanics challenge.

Twenty four hours later on the Saturday the event moved to Loughborough where the Turton High School pupil was fifth overall in the street sprints race.

It was a battling performance by Peatfield who fought back from finishing last in his heat, due to going too fast into a corner and having to unclip his foot from the pedal, to winning his next two races.

On the final day the Green Jersey Race Team rider, who regularly competes at national level, finished 16th overall in the road race.