MORE than 100 cyclists marked the official opening of a path between Princes Risborough and Thame.

Cyclists were riding on a shared-use path on the disused railway between the towns.

It was opened on Wednesday at the eastern by-pass in Thame with the cyclists travelling to Princes Risborough where they met a party led by Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy leader Bill Chapple.

Cllr Chapple said: "It's not just a little cycle route between two towns but part of 6,000 miles of safe cyclepaths.

He added: "I think the locals will use it greatly for pleasant walks or cycling between Thame and Princes Risborough so I'm very pleased to see it open."

Sustrans, (Sustainable Transport) the owners, secured the ownership of the majority of the disused railway in 1997 to turn the line into part of the National Cycle Network.

The path, the Phoenix Trail, was due to open by February but had been closed because of foot and mouth precautions.

Bryony John, one of the rangers who look after the trail, said: "The Phoenix trail has something to suit everyone, whether it's a quick and traffic-free cycle route between Princes Risborough and Thame, a tranquil path to amble along with your dog on a summer's evening, somewhere safe to teach your child to ride their first bicycle or a connecting route for horses to get on or off the Ridgeway at Bledlow."

Sustrans is now hoping to extend the route into Thame.