AN EMOTIONAL ride the length of Britain in celebration of one of ‘Rossendale’s kindest men’ reaches its finale today.

A group of Rossendale men will complete the 874-mile bike ride from John O’Groats to Lands End in just seven days this afternoon.

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Yesterday they cycled 115 miles from Whitchurch to Crediton and today they’ll finish their journey on the 116-mile leg to Lands’End.

The six cyclists are Richie Watts, Adrian Watts, Tim Watts, Damian Ludlow, Andy Lacy and Mike O’Shea and they have been supported by driver Brian Pickup.

The three Watts brothers and their friends are completing the challenge in memory of their father Jim Watts, who was a founder of Rossendale Hospice.

Jim was later appointed Honorary President and continued to support the institution until he died in October 2013 at the age of 86.

His carvings of wooden models of cars, planes and stagecoaches have also been displayed at the Bacup Road hospice.

Richie, from Snowdrop Close in Helmshore, said: “We have chosen Rossendale Hospice as our charity because my father Jim Watts was one of the founders and benefited from their superb services.

“I wanted to do a big challenge for my 50th year and this was it. The training went well. We’ve each been covering about 200 miles a week on the bikes to prepare for the challenges.”

Day one, covering 109 miles from John O’Groats to Invergordon, was perhaps the most dramatic.

Richie posted: “One puncture and an acrobatic fall from Andy Lacey, sunshine for the majority, rain for the last 17 miles – who said it was going to be enjoyable?”

The team had wanted to raise £2,000 but had raised £2,892 by Wednesday lunch-time.

You can still make a donation at www.justgiving.com/JoGLE4Hospice2015.