Founders of rickshaw service 'gobsmacked' by BBC programme The One Show surprise visit

Founders of a Suffolk charity rickshaw service were paid a surprise visit by the BBC's The One Show.

Libby Ranzetta and Sam Reid of Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw had agreed to help double olympic gold medalist Victoria Pendleton with a documentary about the health benefits of cycling.

The pair could not believe their eyes when it suddenly turned into a grand reveal and a huge thank you for their work in the community.

Friends, family, rickshaw users and celebrities such as Ronan Keating, Matt Baker and Sue Perkins, as well as MP Jo Churchill, all expressed their gratitude to the shocked duo.

Ms Ranzetta said: “Sam and I were just gobsmacked and very moved.

"Everyone had gone to all the effort to be there and kept it a secret from us, it was brilliant.

"Being on national television is quite special as well."

Ms Reid and Ms Ranzetta were given a round around the town by Victoria Pendleton in a rickshaw before they came to a sign that the BBC had placed on the path in front of them.

The sign gave some instructions before giving Ms Pendleton the chance to explain what she was really doing and to offer a big thank you on behalf of The One Show for all the work the rickshaw founders had done since 2018.

The pair were then cycled to the Angel Hotel Car Park where they were greeted by a host of applause and were played a series of messages from celebrities on a big screen.

Ms Ranzetta said: “Seeing people smiling and clapping us was really amazing and I particularly liked seeing Sue Perkins.

“The video that made me cry was the one that Riverwalk School made for us where we go every Monday.

"The kids with disabilities made a lovely video and that did it for me, that's why I was wiping my eyes.

“All of our friends and people in the street have come up to us and said how fantastic it was and that it’s really well deserved which is lovely.”

After winning the Queen's Award for voluntary service in July, it tops off a great year for the rickshaw service who now have around 50 people who are able to help with the charity, with about 30 of them who are actively able to help.

Moving forwards, the charity have realised they want to be more effective in helping others.

"We’ve always thought some people would really benefit from going out for a ride, who we just aren’t reaching yet.

"We’re looking at how we address that and target the people who would benefit most from getting out and about."