A TEAM of former soldiers put themselves to the test by cycling from London to Paris for the Royal British Legion.

The eight-strong team, who all served with the Royal Artillery 49 Regiment, completed the 284-mile route in just four days.

They stopped off at various war memorials along the way and finished by paying their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc arc de Triomphe.

And just a week after returning to England, one of the team, 56-year-old Paul Crouch from Thirsk, is ready to take on the Great North Run on Sunday.

He said: “Running uses a different muscle group so traditionally cyclists don’t make good runners, apart from the triathletes who specifically train for it.

“I got a good time last year - one hour 37 minutes - so if I can get anywhere close to that I will be happy.”

Mr Crouch’s son, Joshua, is also tackling the run and he said there has been some ‘friendly family rivalry’ about who will finish with the best time.

Mr Crouch has raised more than £300 already for the RBL.

He said: “As an ex soldier, fit and able, I have a duty to support fellow members of the forces community in any way I can.”