A NORTH-EAST invention has helped keep four cycling fundraisers safe in the saddle.

The four riders, Paul Mackintosh, Steven Emmerson, Martin Jackson and Bob Hugill, who work at Safeway stores in the Teesside area, joined about 60 other cyclists on a sponsored marathon from London to Brussels this week.

They hoped to raise £4,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Their equipment included four helmets incorporating built-in unbreakable rear-view mirrors, enabling the cyclists to see the road behind them.

Manufacturers Reevu, in Low Willington, County Durham, donated the four helmets.

The mirrors are a reflective polycarbonate material which "bends" light around the shape of the head, all within the moulding of the helmet.

The team was also given a Kia MVP seven-seater Sedona to get them to London and then back up to the North-East.

Before setting off on the marathon, Mr Mackintosh, who works at Safeway's North East Area Office, in Ingleby Barwick, said: "The new helmets are really different to the conventional ones and I know that we are all looking forward to using them on the roads throughout England, France and Belgium.

"As well as thanking Reevu and Kia, we would also like to thank all the staff and customers in Safeway stores across the North-East who have done so much to help us raise this money for the Royal British Legion."

Graham Steele, the marketing and sales director at Reevu, said: "This is a very worthy cause and we were delighted to donate them four Reevu helmets to help them on their way.

"The helmet is a North-East innovation that is a world first, and it is great that North-East people like Paul are so keen to try it out and show others its benefits."