BAKERS will swap their mixing bowls for bikes to embark on a fundraising marathon.

Staff at Warburtons bakery, in Newburn, Newcastle, celebrate National Bread Week, from today to June 1 by cycling 600 miles on exercise bikes.

The distance is the equivalent of that between all the company's bakeries in Glasgow, Newcastle, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Wales and London.

Those taking part in the ride will raise money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry), which highlights the risk of sudden death among young people.

As well as colleagues making donations, the company has pledged to give a pound for every mile completed, which is likely to amount to at least £600.

Alan Conway, who works in business development at Warburtons in Newcastle, has started the campaign by completing 20 miles before work.

He said: "Everybody in the bakery is keen to have a go, and if we find we are doing well, we may even ride there and back to raise as much money as possible for the charity."

Regular updates on the cyclists' progress will be posted on the website www.warburtons.co.uk