Riding 1,000 miles 'not as tough as having cancer'

The first stop will be in Cirencester near the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border, 240 miles from Lands End

Riders have set off from Lands End towards John O'Groats on motorbikes that were "bought for no more than £600" to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

On the longest day of the year, about 40 people are aiming to ride more than 1,000 miles in 24 hours, using only A and B roads.

Setting off from Lands End at 04:00 BST, the group's first "official pitstop" will be in Wiltshire.

Rider, Clive Bishop, 58, who lives near Malmesbury, said it will be a tough 24 hours but added it will be "nothing like going through cancer".

The motorbikes have been bought for no more than £600

The riders plan to arrive in John O'Groats by 04:00 BST on Friday, hoping to only stop six times along the way.

Mr Bishop is taking part in the annual fundraising challenge for the first time and said he wanted to "do his bit" after losing his brother "to this horrible disease" eight years ago.

Mr Bishop said they hope to raise "as much as they can" for the charity, stating that most people involved have either been directly or indirectly affected by cancer.

"Each biker has a tracker to go on a set route of which there are no motorways and only six stops for comfort breaks and to refuel," he said.

"When we are on road we've got to stay safe, but it will be emotional once we get to John O'Groats."

The planned pitstops will be in Cirencester, Chesterfield, Preston, Dunoon, Inverness and then John O'Groats.

The group has so far raised £75,000 for Cancer Research.