HOUNSLOW resident, Samra Said, has wheeled into this year's list of the top 100 Women in Cycling from across the country.

The charity Cycling UK announced the list last month, which celebrates inspirational women who have encouraged others to get on their bikes.

Nominees were split into four categories: community champion, industry mogul, cycle influencer and sporting hero.

Said, voted a community champion, is a Ride Leader and trustee for the organisation Cycle Sisters, which aims to inspire and enable Muslim women to cycle.

She co-set up the Hounslow Cycle Sisters group which officially launched this May and has since experienced huge demand.

Said expressed feeling 'very humbling' by the award and hopes it will motivate more women to cycle and identify with their community.

She said: "I find cycling a great way to connect, not only with my city, but also a lot more closely to my local area, by being exposed to the infrastructure of cycling that's actually available.

"You see how one alleyway could connect you to the next borough and that's been really interesting to explore.

"It's a nice way to be a friend to my town and see how I can embed myself in the community of my local borough."

Said, who has a full-time job in the homelessness sector, added: "I do this on the side to give back, also I just enjoy cycling which has enabled me to challenge myself, so I try do it every weekend and I like finding new routes to get people to explore."

The group is part funded by Hounslow council and has a partnership with Osterley Park where the National Trust offer six free bikes for their weekly rides.

Said described the council support for cycling projects as 'phenomenal', as well as the help from Osterley Park who have offered access to additional bikes when demand has been high.

The Hounslow cycling group has recently recruited new Ride Leaders, on top of their five existing ones, to help run the events with the hope of expanding rides into weekdays.

The group has over 60 cyclists so far and rides usually wheel through Brentford to destinations including Syon Park, Chiswick and Richmond Park.

They have a WhatsApp group where members can ask cycle related questions and share information including routes and things happening in the borough, like try before you buy schemes or Doctor Bikes.

Cycle Sisters has several community bike groups across London which offer a supportive and sociable space for Muslim women to develop their cycling skills.