Norfolk penny farthing rider helps break records

Brian Cobbold said wearing tweed "sets the scene" when riding a penny farthing

Suitably dressed in tweed, a 68-year-old penny farthing rider was one of 140 cyclists who helped break numerous world records on Sunday.

Brian Cobbold from King's Lynn, Norfolk, started riding a penny farthing five years ago after he got back into cycling following retirement from the police.

The Guinness World Record event saw broadcaster Jeremy Vine take part

Mr Cobbold said it "wasn't something to be missed".

The event, which attracted people from the US and across Europe, was held at Herne Hill Velodrome before riders cycled to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park velodrome.

Twelve world records by the group and individuals were broken during the event, including for the largest number of penny farthing racers in a velodrome.

Mr Cobbold was one of 140 riders to take part in a Guinness World Record attempt for the most penny farthing riders in a upright stack

Mr Cobbald said riding the Victorian-era cycle was a great way of keeping fit, physically and mentally.

He was among other riders dressed in tweed and top hats at the event, which he described as "eccentric" but it "sets the scene when you ride a penny farthing".

"One of the highlights was riding from Herne Hill out to the velodrome. There was about 55 riders on the 12-mile trip through central London and the highlight was going over Tower Bridge, where we actually got permission to fly a drone... as all the riders went across.

"It was a superb occasion throughout... nothing that will probably be repeated in my lifetime."