A GROUP of young Muslim cyclists have pedalled through the region spreading a message of peace.
Twenty five cyclists are taking part in the Ride4Peace challenge to cycle 600 miles from Glasgow to London.
They stopped off at Hartlepool's Nasir Mosque on Monday night before heading off to their next stop in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
The cyclists from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are aiming to raise £100,000 for British-based charities, the British Heart Foundation and Humanity First.
As well as raising money for charity, organisers hope the cycle ride will highlight the positive contribution that British Muslims are making to the country.
Members of the public have been invited to meet the cyclists en-route and visit their local mosque.
Wadood Ahmad Daud, North-East regional co-ordinator for the Ride4Peace campaign, said: ''We hope that opening up our mosques across the country to anyone and everyone will demonstrate that they are beacons of peace within local communities and not places to be suspicious of.''
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here