FUNERAL director Keith Rawlings is spearheading a coast-to-coast cycling challenge to boost the funds of his local Scout troop.

The 54-year-old keen cyclist will lead a party of 13 tackling the 134-mile trans-Pennine route over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Mr Rawlings, who works for the Co-op Funeral Service, in Chester-le-Street, keeps fit by cycling in his spare time, in part along a stretch of the coast-to-coast (C2C) cycle route near his home.

As treasurer of the 1st Herrington Scout Group, he is often looking at ways of raising much-needed funds to equip the troop and allow members the chance to go on camping expeditions.

He will be accompanied on the challenge by five friends and seven young adventurers from the troop.

They will be heading to Whitehaven, on the Cumbrian coast, for the start, on Saturday August 28, hoping to reach Roker Marina, in Sunderland, at the end of the ride, on the following Monday.

"We are hoping to cover between 50 and 60 miles a day, which means we should have most of it done in the first couple of days, so we can, hopefully, have a nice run in to Sunderland on the Monday."

He hopes the event will raise £5,000 towards equipment for the troop, including tents and other camping kit.

Longer term, the Scouts would like to raise enough to buy new canoes and even their own minibus.

"For the past few years we have been raising money to bring our headquarters up to standard, but we now need to get money together to improve the equipment," said Mr Rawlings.

Previous fundraising exploits Mr Rawlings has been involved in include completing the Three Peaks challenge in 24 hours and the annual Boxing Day North Sea Dip.