ACTOR and comedian Hugh Dennis addressed saddle-sore cyclists in Okehampton on Saturday night at the end of the first leg of the Land’s End to John O’Groats in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain.

A keen cyclist, but injured and unable to ride himself this year, the star of TV sitcom Outnumbered, was there to support the ride’s title charity The Prince’s Trust as well as to wish the other riders well and give them a few tips.

Among 1,000 riders taking part are Kevin Hartley from Tavistock who is riding in memory of his uncle, Major Tony Hartley, who died in December 2017 with Parkinson’s and progressive dementia.

Also riding into Okehampton on Saturday evening was Game of Thrones actor Enzo Cilenti. He is attempting the 969-mile ride on a tandem with his dad Pietro, who has Parkinson’s, a progressive neurological condition. They’ve already raised £20,000 for the charity Parkinson’s UK. Father and son took a well-earned rest in Okehampton before heading off on the next leg of their journey to Bath, alongside the other cyclists. At base camps each night, participants are being offered showers and hot meals.

The ride finishes on September 16.