SUPPORTERS at Buckland Chapel have gone to great pains to raise funds for its window appeal.

The chapel at Buckland Monachorum is in serious need of major repair and refurbishment if it is to be converted into a community-based resource centre for family-fun activities.

Following the success of the fund-raising coast-to-coast cycling initiative pioneered by John Facey, Andrew Farmer, Paul Nixon, along with many other in the community, more than £3,000 was raised towards the repair of the lattice framed, early Victorian windows in the former Baptist Chapel at the heart of the village.

More than 100 miles was covered on the cycle ride from Woolacombe, north Devon to Drake's Steps on the Barbican in Plymouth taking two days to complete.

Many hours of training were put in by the 26 cyclists before their success at the event - those who took part were John Facey, Charles Challis, Andrew Farmer, Paul Nixon, Reuben Crossley, David Lear, Chris Taylor, Peter Tozer, Matthew Brock, Mark Brimsden, Tim Brodribb, Peter Whitfield, Jonathan Unsworth-White, Tim Alexander, David Hancock, Jim Lowther, Crispin Jorden, Pete Keegan, Mick Whitwell, Pete Scott, David Oliver, Graham Brown, Gareth Farmer, John Blake, Anya Starling and Philip Corness.

Mark Tailyour, the chairman of the Buckland Chapel Trust, congratulated the cyclists for their efforts.

In the Buckland Chapel more than 130 panes of glass are in need of repair, each to be cut by hand just in the same way as the early Victorians did as there is no template to work to.

Following the success of the coast-to-coast ride further cycling adventures are planned for the future and a new cycle club has been formed - the Buckland Chapel Cycling Club. For details contact [email protected]">[email protected]