FIVE cyclists and four bikes completed the gruelling 989 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats.

They raised more than £5,000 for Life Education Centres Lancashire charity, which provides mobile units to visit primary schools to educate children about health issues and drug awareness.

The marathon was organised by John Mallalieu, 55, who is chairman of the East Lancashire support group for the charity.

John is a member of Great Harwood Rotary Club and completed the ride on a tandem with his wife Margaret.

He asked other Rotarians to get involved and fellow Great Harwood member Roger Stretton volunteered along with Adrian Watts, of Waterfoot, a member of Rossendale Rotary and Richard Dugdale, from Clitheroe, a member of Ribblesdale Rotary.

Newsagent Adrian, 42, said: "Fearns High School in Stacksteads provided us with a mini-bus to take us to Land's End and provide back up support.

"We took a break after six days to go round Great Harwood show to raise extra funds and completed the ride after 13 days.

"Some days we would ride about 90 miles and on two days we rode more than 100. The hardest part was at the start riding through Devon and Cornwall.

"We kept to B roads so traffic was not much of a problem but it was hilly in Devon and Cornwall and although you were not riding high hills there are a lot of ups and downs and in the first couple of days you are not as fit as you are at the end!"

He added: "Scotland was hilly but the climbs were gradual and the best day was the second to last. There was a slight wind and we were riding through a lovely valley. It was beautiful and easy riding. We were all relaxed because we knew we had almost done it.

"Probably the worst thing was the 13-hour mini bus trip back home afterwards!"

The team spent a year planning the trip and organised their own training schedules meeting up once a month from February to complete rides as a team.

"We had one weekend when three of us rode 100 miles on the Saturday and 80 on the Sunday and it was the hottest day of the year so we knew if we could do that we could survive the trip," said Adrian, a member of Rossendale Harriers.

"We had no injuries on the journey - one rider had a bit of cramp but apart from that it all went well.

"It is something which I have always wanted to do. I do a lot of running and I have done a lot of long distance running events, but an injury a couple of years ago has prevented me from running as much so when the chance for this came up I just took it!"

Life Education Centres' Lancashire charity currently has three £70,000 mobile units visiting schools at an annual cost of around £25,000. EASY RIDERS: Rorary Club members, from the left, Roger Stretton, Richard Dugdale, John Mallalieu and Adrian Watts