SOME 28 cyclists from the York Inn in Churchinford have raised thousands of pounds for charity by riding from London to Brighton.

Pub landlord Paul Thomas, a former police officer from London, said they had raised £10,752 for Bike4cancer.

Paul, who has been treated for cancer, hit on the idea of taking part in the event after one of his customers told him he had also battled the disease. “In the end there were four of us who have had cancer,” he said.

“We did training cycling up and down the Blackdown Hills, so we didn’t have too many acing muscles the next day.

“It was a fantastic day that brought the whole village together and we had a huge party after we got home.”

The cyclists are planning another ride next year. They want to ride 70 miles from the north Somerset coast to the sea in Dorset in September to raise money for the Blackdown Hills community bus and the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Paul only discovered he had Non-Hodgkin lymphoma after he went over the handlebars while cycling and punctured a lung in 2013. Bike4cancer provides respite care for cancer sufferers and their families.

Anyone who would like to take part in next year’s ride can contact Paul Thomas via [email protected]