A GROUP of Melksham cyclists are stepping up their training in preparation for a bike ride from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise £3,000 for charity.

Steve Gerrish, along with his son and three friends, will take on the extraordinary feat, which will see them cycle approximately 1,000 miles over the course of ten days.

Mr Gerrish will be joined by Keith Jefferies, his son Mark Gerrish and Neil Young, who are raising money for the Great Western Air Ambulance, and Dan Aldridge, who will donate his sponsorship to Cancer Research UK.

Mr Gerrish, 51, said: “We wanted to do it for a good cause and we decided on the air ambulance because it is a really good charity.

“I know somebody who has used it after they were involved in a road traffic accident. Most people know somebody who has been affected by this.

“We usually ride out together at least once a week with the furthest we have been so far being around 75 miles.”

The group started fund raising four weeks ago and have so far raised around £650 towards their chosen charities.

They began training just after Christmas and will have to cover around 100 miles each day if they are to complete the route, which is to take place between May 19-29.

Mr Gerrish added: “I had never ridden before this. We all have bikes but did not ride that much. My partner will be driving a mini bus on the route carrying all our supplies and then she is going to take us back.”

To donate go to www.justgiving.com/neil-Young7 or there are forms and collection points at Auto-Tech car sales in Melksham and Wadswick Country Store near Corsham.