MOTHERS thanked workmen building controversial new cycle lanes by bringing them a home-cooked breakfast.

Three women who support Cycle Enfield surprised the tradesmen with bacon rolls, pastries, tea and coffee to say ‘thank you for the bike lanes’.

Clare Rogers, Claire Brady and Maggie Westhead, also created a banner expressing their gratitude, made by their children.

The scheme has proved controversial, with many saying the loss of parking spaces will “ruin” businesses.

Ms Rogers, whose daughters are 13 and 9, said: “We are very excited about the difference the Cycle Enfield scheme will make to our kids. We wanted to show our support.”

Speaking about the reasons behind the controversy, Ms Westhead, who was with her son, William, seven months, said: “I think people find the idea of change difficult.

“But this is the future. I’m delighted by children will be able to cycle safely.

“I want to be less reliant on the car, especially on the school run.”

Ms Brady currently cycles to school with her six-year-old on a tag-along bike, but wants her daughter to ride her bike independently on the new lanes.

She said: “She’s going to have so much more freedom - and exercise.”

Florin Cheregi, one of the Ringway Jacobs workmen currently on site, said he and his team - Ichim Ionut, Daniel Cheregi, Ion Blanariu and Andrey Ursut - appreciated the gesture.

He said: “Some people have come up to us to say they don't like what we’re doing and that no one wants the cycle lanes. But I think cycling is a healthier way to travel. I cycle myself.”

All three women belong to Better Streets for Enfield, a local group calling for less car-dominated, more people-friendly streets in the borough.

The work so far has included a kerb build-out to slow traffic and a stretch of kerb-protected bike lane near the Green Dragon Lane and the A105 junction.

A raised table will also be installed, to calm traffic as it turns the corner.

The workmen are also building a “bus stop boarder” to allow cycles to pass the bus stop between Oxford and Cambridge Gardens.

Ringway Jacobs site supervisor Glen Heath said he expected the Cycle Enfield work to be completed “in two years”, while the A105 scheme is expected to take about seven months.