BOBBIES got on their bikes to raise £3,000 for a good cause in a marathon ride.

A team of 12 Cleveland Police officers and their friends embarked on the gruelling 100-mile Coast-to-Coast trip to help fund treatment for eight-year-old Katie Rawson.

Among the participants was the Redcar youngster's policeman dad Les.

Marathon bike rides are an annual event for the trip's organiser, Sergeant Dave Lister, who works with the Saltburn Rotary Club to raise money for different causes.

This year, after hearing about Katie, he thought she would be the ideal choice.

The team undertook the ride, from Silverdale, on the west coast, to Saltburn on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year.

PC Rawson said: "It was the first time I had ever done anything like that, and I started training a couple of months beforehand.

"Only one of the team had a racing bike, and he completed the ride in one go because he was due at work the next day.

"The majority of us had mountain bikes of varying conditions and quality."

All of the team completed the trip. The cash raised will be used to pay for treatment at the British Institute for Brain Injured Children, in Somerset, to help Katie overcome severe learning difficulties.

PC Rawson said: "It costs about £3,000 a year and we take Katie down four times a year.

"Her quality of life has improved drastically - she's able to communicate her needs and get around a lot better. Without the support of friends, family and several local companies, Katie wouldn't be able to receive her treatment."