ORGANISERS of an annual community bike ride have donated a bicycle to a cycling charity.

The Durham Big Ride organisers presented a bike to Gateway Wheelers, a cycling club which caters for riders with disabilities.

Brian Milner, from the club, said: “Durham Big Ride is probably our major way to get money via sponsorship and donations so really it is a nice surprise that the organisers have given us the money to buy another cycle for our club.”

Ride director Colin Wilkes said: “The event has raised thousands of pounds for various charities over the eight years we have been on and that’s one of the reasons we started in the first place.

“We have given some of our profits to various charities over the years and we thought the best thing we could do for Gateway Wheelers was to fund a bike for them.

“It’s always a pleasure to see Brian and his club turn up year after year and have a really good time.”

This year’s Durham Big Ride is on Sunday, September 6, with the 50-mile Beast on Sunday, September 20. For more information, visit durhambigride.co.uk