A 100-mile bike ride named the Hell O' The North will push nearly 200 cyclists to their limits this weekend.

The ten-hour ride will be the culmination of this year's Darlington Cycling Festival, sponsored by Woodlands Hospital.

Entrants have been preparing all summer for the fiendish trek, which will leave from the town's Dolphin Centre tomorrow.

It will head through Richmond, Hawes, Brough, Middleton-in-Teesdale and back to Darlington.

Jeff Dawson, events manager for leisure services in Darlington, said: "We are still inviting entrants who can turn up tomorrow, but this is not for the casual cyclist. Entrants should be used to cycling long distances and must have done some preparation."

Registration for the ride is between 8.30am and 9.30am at the Dolphin Centre. Entry costs £6 with a T-shirt or £2.50 just for the ride.

For more information, call Mr Dawson on 07966-347108.