STONYHURST College staff and pupils returned to a heros' welcome after completing a 1,500-mile cycle pilgrimage.

The ride, which was a celebration of the millennium and the school's foundation in Europe more than 400 years ago, was undertaken by 13 pupils, five of whom are from East Lancashire, and 10 staff.

They spent 12 days re-tracing the college's Jesuit roots and visiting its three sites in Europe before it moved to the Ribble Valley.

Director of admissions Peter Anwyl said: "Having visited the birthplace of St Ignatious, founder of the Jesuits, along with other related sites, they crossed the Pyrenees into France where they visited Lourdes where each year Stonyhurst pupils go in pilgrimage. They moved on to Northern France to visit St Omer where the college was founded in 1593 and then to Bruges and Liege."