HORIZONTAL rain and gusts of wind reaching up to 60mph failed to prevent two cyclists completing a ride for charity.

Mark Matthew and Terry Lane took 14 days to ride more than 1,000 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats.

But the trip, to raise thousands of pounds for three charities, was far from easy.

Just 13 miles out of Plymouth, Mr Matthews' bike broke and he had to buy a new one and post the other home.

And during the five days they were in Scotland, the pair were battered by rain and gale force winds.

Once they reached journey's end, they were not allowed to put their bikes on the train to come home and had to post them back.

"But it was a great trip," said Mr Matthews, 41, of Middlesbrough, who is programme manager at the McNay Street SureStart centre in Darlington.

"We met some fabulous people along the way, who were very supportive of what we were trying to do."

The pair have so far collected a total of £2,500 in sponsorship money.

Mr Matthews will donate his proceeds to a women's refuge in Darlington.

Mr Lane, 50, has raised the cash for the Pain Relief Centre at Darlington Memorial Hospital and the Butterwick Children's Hospice, in Stockton.