It was thirsty work at a Woodford Bridge cafe last weekend as staff pedalled to raise cash for poor coffee growers.

More than £200 was raised in the sponsored bike-a-thon held outside Costa Coffee on Chigwell Road. Money will go towards building schools and other facilities in areas the coffee chain uses to source its beans.

David Ruddock, who works in the store, said the event was “brilliant”, adding: “Everyone really got into it, all the customers came in asking questions.

“A lot of people didn’t know what it was all about, and that was the main purpose of the event - to spread the news.”

Cash raised by the cycle and a raffle is going to the Costa Foundation, a charitable arm of the company whose mission is the relief of poverty in coffee-growing commmunities.

The Woodford Bridge cafe aims to raise £600 this August, and is now just £100 shy of its goal.

Mr Ruddock, the store’s Costa Foundation “champion”, added: “Hopefully people will continue giving so we can reach our target.”