A CYCLIST who was planning a solo 1,000 mile ride from Land's End to John O'Groats has acquired a travelling companion.

Mark Matthews, 41, from Middlesbrough, intended to do the two-week trip in September alone but will now be joined by friend Terry Lane, 49, from Darlington.

Father-of-two Mr Matthews hopes to raise £10,000 for the Family Help women's refuge in Darlington.

Mr Lane will donate the proceeds of his ride to the Pain Relief Centre at Darlington Memorial Hospital and the Butterwick Children's Hospice in Stockton.

"My sister Deborah Toward suffers from an arthritic condition of the back which means she is always in pain and uses the centre," said Mr Lane.

"Hopefully we can raise enough to buy it more equipment because it has to rely on public donations."

Mr Matthews said: "We hope to average 80 to 100 miles a day and while I have been cycling all my life, I'll need to up the training as the start date approaches.