Four cyclists have raised more than £6,000 after taking on a gruelling charity challenge.

Malcolm Brown, from Wigton, Ian Ramsay, from Silloth, and brothers Richard and Brian Story, also from Silloth, are due to complete their mammoth Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle ride today.

The group have endured a 12-day stint in the saddle and when they finish up at the country’s highest mainland point they will have travelled 1,033 miles.

Richard, who lives at Blackdyke, told The Cumberland News : “We planned the route ourselves so we could go to places we wanted to see.”

The money will be handed to the Carlisle-based Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, their children’s hospice.

Richard said: “Brian and Ian have done three-day cycles before but me and Malcolm aren’t as experienced.

“Some days have been really hard but most of the time it has been OK. We’ve been cycling from 7am to 7pm virtually every day, an average of about 85 miles.”

The idea of where to donate the money came from Richard who volunteers at the charity.

The group have also been spurred on by the memory of Silloth man Michael Aird. who spent some time in the hospice before he died in January last year.

Anyone who would like to pledge money to the group’s efforts can do so by going to: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/richardstory1