A GROUP of motorcyclists have taken to the countryside to raise money for charity while at the same time demonstrating their right to use low-grade roads.

Organiser Peter Jennings said he and more than 50 other Enduro motorcyclists met at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn before embarking on a 70 mile off-road ride to raise cash for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team.

Mr Jennings said: “The ride was also a demonstration of our right to use legal ‘green lane’ routes, which we seem to have received a lot of hassle about recently.

“We get stopped by park rangers and police and asked where we are going and where we have been – but we always stay on legal tracks and respect the countryside.”

Mr Jennings said the ride took the group from Leyburn into Swaledale, across two rivers and into Wensleydale to Hawes, before finishing through West Witton and to Wensley.

He added: “The day had a few breakdowns but everybody helped out to keep all the riders going it was good team work and £3,000 was raised.

“We turned out in numbers to show we are legal riders who ride carefully and respect the countryside and all those we come across on route.”