A TEAM of North-East bikers are on a mission to raise £5,000 for charities by riding around the coast of Britain.

The four bikers are around two thirds of the way through their challenge, which will see them cover around 3,000 miles.

Team organiser David Atkin, 52, from Hetton-le-Hole, in County Durham, said: “We’re feeling tired but we’re holding up. We’ve still got a way to go though. I’ve done a few rides for charity before but I’ve never done this sort of mileage before so I didn’t know what to expect.

“We’ve all got blisters on our hands and feet and I don’t want to say where else.”

The other team members are Jason Stocks and Jason Parker, both from Willington in County Durham, and Hugh Macleod, from North Shields.

They are aiming to raise £5,000 which will be divided between 4Louis, a charity supporting parents of stillborn babies by providing them with memory boxes, and Orchid, which is raising awareness about testicular, prostate and penile cancers.

Mr Atkin, whose daughter was stillborn, said: “Everyone on the team has been affected in some way by male cancer or still birth. It’s been an emotional ride for all of us.”

“I lost my daughter 27 years ago and this charity wasn’t around but if they had it would have helped us no end. The trouble is after nine months of planning for a baby and you walk out with a Polaroid photo and that’s all we’ve got.”

The team set off from Washington wetlands on Sunday, July 31 and are aiming to arrive back by Wednesday.

They are spending nine hours on the bike each day, covering around 350 miles.

Mr Atkin added: “The thing about Britain is that it’s such a beautiful country but people don’t get the chance to see it.

“It makes you think you really need to get out more and the best way to see it is on a bike. There’s nothing like some of the roads we’ve been on for testing you mentally and physically.”

To find out more about the team or to donate visit www.aroundbritainchallenge.co.uk