STUDENTS took to their bikes to raise funds to to help one of their tutors.

The eight teenagers heard that profoundly deaf Maggie Rose, who teaches sign language at Northallerton College, needed a new hearing dog to take over from Phoebe, who at the age of 13 is ready to retire.

So they hopped on their bikes and covered 160 miles of rough terrain from Workington to Roker Pier in Sunderland.

"It took us three days to complete the ride - but it took us several months to get the sponsorship money in," said 18-year-old Matt Brudenell, one of cycling team. Yesterday they presented Ms Rose with a cheque for £450. "She is such a nice person. We had to help her," said Matt.

A delighted Maggie said: "I'm very grateful to the lads.

"These dogs are very highly trained. Phoebe tells me if there is someone at the door or even if there is an emergency in the kitchen, like a pan boiling dry."

It costs about £5,000 for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf to train a hearing dog.

The other cyclists who took part were Sam and Jon Lindsay, Simon Wilson, Mark Hutchinson, Steven Hermon, Andrew Hird and Stuart Charlton.