TWO cyclists from Craven have completed Britain's most famous bicycle challenge - the 'end-to-end' ride from Land's End to John O'Groats.

And they have given a boost of more than £5,000 to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by taking on the route, generally reckoned at around 875 miles.

Former Halton West, Hellifield, resident Peter Beresford, 56, who now lives at Grewelthorpe, near Masham, and Charlie James, 57, of Park Wood Crescent, Skipton - who say they consider themselves to be "purely leisure cyclists" - took two weeks to complete the ride across the length of mainland UK, from the south-western-most tip of England to north-western Scotland. They have known each other since 1979, when both joined Barclays in Skipton.

Peter, a business consultant, said: "We knew it would be a massive challenge for us - and it was!

"We had to average about 75 miles a day and at times it just seemed so relentless. "We were staying in bed-and-breakfasts and hostels, getting up every morning knowing we had a gruelling day in front of us.

"We seemed to be cycling into a headwind all the way from the Lake District right to the tip of Scotland! But it was still a fantastic experience and we are both glad we did it.

"I don't think either of us want to tackle the 'end-to-end' again, but there are other long distance rides we'd like to have a go at in the future.

"We are purely leisure cyclists but wanted to raise money for a great local charity.

"We both live in rural areas and know people who have benefited from the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, so it was an easy decision.

“I can’t thank people enough for the support they have given us.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance carries out more than 1,250 missions every year and needs to raise £12,000 every day.

The record for cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats is held by Andy Wilkinson, who completed the journey in 41 hours, 4 mins, 22 secs on a 'recumbent' tricycle. On a conventional bicycle, the record is 44 hours, 4 mins, 20 secs, set by Gethin Butler in 2001.