A GROUP of cyclists are pedalling from London to Paris this weekend in memory of a keen cyclist who was killed in a bike crash two years ago.

The team of ten riders will be covering 300km in three days as they take part in the British Heart Foundation London to Paris off road challenge.

Dan Webb said: "It will be two years this June that I lost my friend Gary Kelly in a tragic cycle accident and since then we’ve raised over £5,000 for local charities and set up a cycle club in Wilton called the Broken Saddle Bike Club.

"For this year’s charity fundraiser, we’ve decided as a club to enter a team of ten riders, plus a back up team of three who will support us all the way.

"The local charity rescue team Serve-On are supplying us with a 17-seat mini-bus and Graham Hayball of Hayball Cycle Sport is not only joining the team as bike mechanic but is also supplying us with his van and trailer for our bikes when and where needed as we cover on our mountain bikes some of the toughest terrain in memory of our great friend Gary.

"We’ve been training since the turn of the year with all ten riders clocking up 900 miles each in readiness for the challenge.

"We’ll be in the saddle for around seven hours on day one and two and then up to 12 hours on day three.

"This off road challenge to Paris is only arranged once a year. We hope to raise between £6,000 and £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation and are funding the trip ourselves."

Mr Kelly, from Harnham, died in a collision with a lorry while cycling near Coombe Bissett.

The off road cycle challenge starts on Saturday. To donate visit Hayball Cycle Sport in Winchester Street where cheques can be made out to British Heart Foundation.