TWO keen cyclists have tackled an epic charity bike ride from Durham to Wales and back - in less than 24 hours.

Durham county councillor Peter Brookes and senior finance officer Andrew Gilmore completed the 230-mile cycling challenge in just 21 hours in a bid to raise cash for Dementia Durham.

The pair set off from the Middleton-in-Teesdale at 10.10am on Thursday (June 16) and returned to the same spot on Friday at around 7am, having taken just one-and-a-half hours worth of breaks.

The 61-year-old, who represents Trimdon and Thornley, said: "It was a very hard challenge, particularly the last couple of hours, but we're very proud of the achievement and I'm sure not many people can say they have ridden from Durham to Wales and back in a day."

With a support team made up of the council's fleet services alongside, the duo made their way through the Eden Valley in Cumbria, into the Lune Valley and down to Preston before reaching the suburbs of Liverpool.

From there, the riders were taken through the Mersey Tunnel in a van sponsored by County Durham-based GAP Group, from where they covered the final 13 miles to the England and Wales border at Shotwick.

"We came back on the same route but had an extra 1,500 feet to climb," added Cllr Brookes. "There was 8,500 feet of elevation all together and we completed it in 21 hours and 13 minutes with an average speed of 10.77mph."

So far Cllr Brookes, who is chairman of Trimdon Cycling Club, has almost reached his target fundraising figure of £1,000 but hopes to continue to raise awareness and money for Dementia Durham.

It is the chosen charity by the council's chairman Cllr Eddie Bell who plans to distribute cash raised to dozens of smaller Dementia clubs and groups throughout the county

"Dementia is affecting so many families in County Durham and across the country and I have two relatives who have suffered badly from it," added Cllr Brookes. "It touches everybody and I think it's a worthwhile cause."

No stranger to tough challenges, he took up the sport a decade ago and has cycled for the chairman's charity for the past few years.

Last year he cycled to London to raise money and awareness of autism.

To donate visit www.crowdfunding.justgiving.com/peter-brookes