A CLASS of children from Dunnington CE School have won the chance to go back stage and meet singing stars as part of York's Grand Départy Concert.

The Year 5 youngsters will get to meet boy band Union J at the Huntington Stadium gig on Friday ahead of the Grand Depart coming to the city next Sunday.

Every child in the class will also get a free ticket for the concert after winning a competition organised to mark Bike Week 2014, which took place last week. The aim of the competition was to persuade as many children as possible to cycle to school.

Some days during the week, as many as 31 children out of 33 in the winning class cycled to school.

Their teacher, Lydia Waites, said: "The children are very excited. There has been lots of screaming from the girls about Union J.

"When we initially told them about the competition they were really keen to enter.

"They have been doing some cycle training with City of York Council on Thursdays and they were keen to put their skills in to practise. They are still cycling into school which is good to see."

Cllr Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for tourism, said: “I hope the children thoroughly enjoy what promises to be a wonderful evening’s entertainment and have fun meeting Union J back stage.”

The line-up for the concert also includes Russell Watson, Rough Copy, Kian Egan, York-based singer songwriter Alistair Griffin, Ollie Marland, The Loveable Rogues, Altered Images, Brother Beyond, The Blow Monkeys, The Overtones, York duo Disco Mister and York party band HUGE.

Tickets are on sale, priced at £50 for a family ticket for four or £20 each, from www.ticketline.co.uk; www.experiencetherace.com and Visit York on Museum Street, York.

The Grand Départy Concert is just one element of the weekend's events and attractions which include street theatre and live music with much of the TdF action focusing on the spectator hubs at Huntington Stadium, the Designer Outlet and Rowntree Park, where there will be family entertainment, and big screens.

For more information about the hubs, visit: www.experiencetherace.com