A TERRIFIC trio of cyclists with a combined age of over 210 have raised thousands of pounds for charity by completing a coast-to-coast bike trail.

Ian McNaughton, Douglas Brands and Alan Wheelans of Gourock Rotary Club took on a 140-mile cycle from Whitehaven upon the Irish Sea to Newcastle on the North Sea.

The big hearted bikers raised £2,000 for local charities with the five-day fundraiser, which saw them battle up some of the toughest passes in England.

Douglas, who is the youngest of the three at 68, told the Tele they had enjoyed some spectacular countryside on their trip across the Lake District and the Pennines.

He said: "The three of us have been cycling together for the last four or five years.

"We've not what you'd called toned athletes, but we got on pretty well.

"We knew it would pour down on us when we went through places like Whitehaven, but once you're on the route the only way to go is forward, so we had no choice but to push through.

"Ian has been trying to organise the event for a few years, but it's been delayed due to Covid.

"When he first asked me to join in I said it was daft, but when 2022 came around I decided to join in.

"We're very grateful to everyone who donated to us, the local people have been so generous."

While Ian, Douglas and Alan are keen recreational cyclists, the fundraiser was the first time the group had attempted a trail of such scale.

The Rotary members had to increase the regularity of their weekly cycles before they set off on the trek to prepare for the gruelling challenge.

But despite the challenges they faced, Douglas says the trio are already keen to take on another route in the future.

He added: "The three of us loved it and we're now thinking of doing Hadrian's Wall.

"There's definitely going to be another one, we're already back out again.

"Even the day after we finished we all felt like we were missing being out on the bike."

Rotary Club president Archie McKinlay praised the trio's hard work fundraising for worthy local causes.

He said: "With a combined age of over 210 years, we salute their commitment and trust five days in the saddle was not too painful."