A PENSIONER from Bradford on Avon completed a 100-mile bike ride from Bristol to Birmingham on Saturday, August 6.

Judith Hammond undertook the challenge in order to raise awareness of the UK’s arms trade with Israel, and to raise money for a cycle project for children in Gaza.

The 73-year-old, alongside 30 others, cycled 100 miles from Bristol to Birmingham in two days, before meeting up with other cycle groups from across the country who then travelled en-masse to Birmingham’s city centre.

She said: “It was a really enjoyable event, I only knew one other person doing it but everyone was so nice.

“The weather was lovely, the scenery was lovely and it was for a brilliant cause.

“Whizzing through the streets of Birmingham was really fun and the volunteers did a fantastic job of directing people.

“Before the ride, I cycled to Winchester on the hottest day of the year which was a really good way of training – my husband wasn’t so sure it would be a good idea but I really wanted to do it.”

This was Mrs Hammond’s second cycle ride after she successfully completed a cycle challenge around the West Bank of Palestine last year.

Mrs Hammond added: “We'll have to wait and see if I'll do another event in the future.

"I’m going to relax for a bit now and see the grandchildren as much as possible.

“The Birmingham ride was sandwiched by taking the younger grandchildren to North Wales and taking the older grandchildren to the Lake District afterwards.”

If you would like to sponsor Mrs Hammond, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Judith-Hammond-the-big-ride