DOZENS of councillors and council employees are to join a mayor and mayoress in a sponsored bike ride next month.

The staff and elected members of Gateshead council are expected to raise more than £1,000 for good causes.

The Mayor, Councillor Pitch Wilson and his wife Mary, are both over 70, but will be leading the 30-mile ride on Sunday, September 17.

The ride will start at 9.30am at Gateshead Civic Centre, and will follow a route taking in Birtley, part of the Sunderland to Consett C2C cycle route to Leadgate, back down the Derwent Walk to the MetroCentre, then along the Keelman's Way to the Swing Bridge and finally back to the Civic Centre.

Councillor Wilson said: "I'm a very keen cyclist. I have been cycling since I was a child and still very much enjoy it. It is a pastime that I would encourage people of any age to take part in and keep fit, healthy and active.

"For me it's combining a favourite pastime with some very worthwhile causes.