CHARITY cyclists are on course to raise £10,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance after a mountain bike challenge at Hamsterley Forest.

Bikers from across the region and as far south as Nottingham took part in the Hamsterley Beast on Saturday. (May 9)

There was an 18-mile and 40-mile challenge on offer to cyclists of all ages. Prizes will be presented to the biggest fundraisers.

The grand total raised is not yet known but so far £7,000 has been collected with more still to come in.

Chris Carr, who helped organise the event, said: “It was amazing and it went really, really well.

“We had a few people drop out but we still had just under 180 bikers taking part.

“It was a bit overwhelming to see them all lined up and to then see them head off along and it’s pleasing to have raised so much.

“To mountain bike you need to be somewhere like the Lake District or Hamsterley Forest where it can take a land ambulance an hour to reach you.

“That’s where the air ambulance is so good and it’s why we chose to support it.”