“PEDALLING pickets” joined striking rail workers at Victoria and Piccadilly stations in Manchester today.

The Morning Star’s Pedal4Progress cycling team started the second leg of their 160-mile trans-Pennine marathon to raise funds for our paper.

The cyclists, who include actor and Morning Star ambassador Maxine Peake, set off from Liverpool on Tuesday, backed by a logistics team.

This morning, they were heading for Yorkshire, but not before joining striking RMT members on their picket lines.

Cycling team member Bernadette Keaveney, who is the Morning Star’s circulation manager, said: “Some of the logistics team went to Victoria station to show solidarity with the rail workers there. 

“We went to Piccadilly station. We explained we were from Pedal4Progress raising funds for the Morning Star and that we wanted to stop by and show solidarity with them.

“They were very pleased, and they were grateful for the coverage the Morning Star has given them.

“There was a lot of support for the strikers from people in cars going past and beeping for them. People in Manchester are supporting the strikers.”

Last night, the team was warmly welcomed at Wortley Hall near Sheffield, the “workers’ stately home,” where those at the reception included Anne Scargill and Betty Cook, founders of the Women Against Pit Closures movement.

The marathon had raised almost £3,000 even before it set off, with a further £1,000 pledged so far.

Today, the cyclists head for Selby, where they will stay overnight before heading for their final destination, the east coast city of Hull, tomorrow.

To support us in this challenge, please donate by bank transfer to Merseyside Morning Star, sort code 60-83-01, account number 20428060.

Please reference your donation P4P10. Contact [email protected] for further information.