CYCLING fans Chris Suttie and Stacey Holmes are using pedal power to raise awareness of an environmental issue.

The Darlington duo set out on Monday to ride from London to Istanbul, Turkey, in aid of the Soil Association. They are raising funds for the charity's stance against the commercial growing of genetically modified (GM) crops in the UK.

The team will take ten weeks to cover the 2,500 miles, camping on the way and visiting organic farms in the ten countries they will pass through.

Mr Suttie said: "Commercialisation of GM is going to affect everyone in this country and we want to show the kind of opposition that it has here, and also in Europe."

The challenge can be followed at www.healthywheels.org.uk