A CHESTER-le-Street man will take part in a 223-mile cycle ride in Africa for a charity that recycles unwanted bikes.

David Herbert, 27, will make the journey from Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro Gate in January with other employees of the car part store chain Halfords.

The event is being held to raise money for Re-Cycle, which ships unwanted bikes from Britain to Africa, and is the company’s charity partner.

Mr Herbert, who is assistant manager at the firm’s Team Valley store, has raised £2,000 of the £3,000 he needs to go on the trip, £800 of which will go to the charity.

Mr Herbert said:“It is something I will probably never get the chance to do again.

“I am one of about a dozen people throughout the country going but I am the only one from the north.

“Part of my fund-raising so far has included an in-store raffle to win a £300 bike, cake sales, getting my leg waxed – I’ll not be in a rush to have that done again - and I’ve got a Halloween fund-raiser planned on October 31 at the British Legion in Coatsworth Road, Gateshead, at 7pm.

“In addition to this, St Joseph’s School in Gateshead donated £110 from a car wash they arranged for the staff.

Tickets for the fancy dress Halloween party and raffle cost £5 and can be obtained by making a donation on Mr Herbert’s Just Giving page, David-Herbert10.