A TEAM of intrepid cyclists have pedalled coast-to-coast in a non-stop ride to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The team of 13, from the 3M factory in Newton Aycliffe, finished the 130-mile route from Workington to Whitley Bay in 12 hours, despite numerous punctures along the way.

Now they are hoping their marathon efforts will raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

It was the eighth annual bike ride organised by employees at the 3M manufacturing site, but this was the first attempt at a one-day, coast-to-coast ride.

Paul Richardson, a maintenance technician at the Heighington Lane site, said: "It was a crazy idea that someone had and we just thought we would go for it.

"We wanted to raise as much as we could for the charity, so hopefully the greater the challenge the more we should make."

The Anthony Nolan Trust was chosen as this year's charity because a seven-year-old nephew of one the riders has leukaemia.

The trust manages the world's first and largest independent register of bone marrow donors.

The cyclists are hoping to raise about £2,500 for the trust through sponsorship and the 3M care and share matched funding scheme.

Taking part in the ride with Paul Richardson were Trevor Bailey, Norman Blenkiron, Stuart Jackson, Trevor Searby, Paul Southall, Jeff Tinkler, Scott Edgerley, Burnard Hume, Ivor Hill, Ronnie Norton, Alan Kellett and Mal Watson, with Dave Hall driving the support vehicle.