STAFF at a Basingstoke restaurant piled on the pedal power to pull in the pounds for a good cause.

A team of staff from Festival Place restaurant Ask Italian took it in turns to pedal for 30 minutes on a stationary bike outside the restaurant from midday to 6pm in a one-day challenge to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London.

The hospital was chosen as the restaurant chain’s charity of the year for 2014, and staff from across the UK will be taking part in fundraising efforts to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

As part of the Basingstoke branch’s fundraising efforts, three members of staff will also be taking part in a triathlon on July 10.

The triathlon, which will take place at Dorney Lake, in Windsor, will see general manager David Rippington and colleagues Lubomira Kvackajora and Dorota Czmut take part in a cycling, swimming and running challenge.

The Basingstoke team aims to raise at least £500 for Great Ormond Street Hospital through the bike challenge and the triathlon. Any money that they raise will go towards funding a new surgery centre at the hospital, which is due to open in 2017.

Speaking about the cycling feat, general manager David, 27, said: “It was a bit of fun to show people that we are doing something to go that extra mile.

“We will see if we can spread the word about the charity, and we are doing our best for it.

“It is a great charity to support and we are more than willing to help them.”