A YOUNG West Devon man and his friend took to their saddles to cycle the length of the UK in only nine days this summer, raising money for two deserving causes along the way.

Oliver Wheeldon from Crapstone and his friend Jon Wilkin, who both attend Keele University in Stoke-on-Trent, cycled hundreds of miles from John O'Groats to Lands End after setting themselves the challenge following 'one too many' beverages.

Oliver's mother Mandy said: 'Oliver likes a challenge. After his first year of uni, he drank a bit too much and set himself this challenge. His friend Jon decided to join him and they did it in nine days.'

Mandy said that neither of them had been keen cyclists before the event and had to buy bicycles especially for the challenge.

'It is quite an achievement to cycle that far in nine days. They didn't do any training and they both got fitter during the week — they both lost three quarters of a stone but there wasn't much on them to start with!'

Oliver decided to raise money for Children's Hospice South West as his younger brother's cricket team supports the charity and Jon raised money for a day care centre for the elderly in his hometown of Southport.

Oliver was aiming to raise £500 but has already exceeded the amount with £650 raised so far and more to be collected. Jon also raised close to £650.

Mandy added: 'I'm exceptionally proud of them.

'We just drove back from Land's End to home and there were so many hills — they did that journey in one day, it's just amazing.'