AS an aspiring young cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, and his father, David, would pack up the family car every Friday evening before driving through the night to BMX races the length and breadth of the country.

Sir Chris has since successfully pedalled his way into the history books as a six-time Olympic gold medallist and 11-time world champion, but he has never forgotten the huge sacrifices made by his father.

Speaking as he launched the Highland Spring "Parentspiration" campaign to recognise mums and dads who have encouraged their children to achieve their ambitions, Sir Chris named David, 68, as his own biggest inspiration.

"It wasn't ever in a pushy parent-syndrome way," he said. "My dad helped kick-start my sporting career by supporting, encouraging and taking me to BMX races all over the country - sometimes right down to the south coast of England.

"He would be would be working a physical, hard job Monday to Friday. Then on Friday night we would pack the car up and drive through the night to wherever the race was that weekend.

"We would do it weekend after weekend and he would never complain about it," he added. "It was a big sacrifice and commitment in terms of his time, the cost of petrol and hotels. It wasn't because he thought this was the first step towards Olympic glory, it was purely to give me the opportunity to enjoy sport."

Sir Chris, 38, who retired from professional cyclinglast year, is expecting his first child with wife Sarra in December. The couple, who married in Edinburgh four years ago, are based in Manchester, where Sarra, 34, works as a lawyer.

"It's exciting and is going to be a whole different chapter in our lives," he said.