A TINY Dartmoor parish has beaten almost every other one in the county in an annual charity event which raises money for the Devon Historic Churches Trust.

St Mary's Church in Throwleigh was one of around 150 churches and chapels which took part in the Millennium Bike ride, organised this summer by the Trust.

And St Mary's raised a magnificent £638.43 — the third highest amount in the county which helped swell the total, estimated to beat all previous Bike Ride records.

Noel Thistlethwaite, event area organiser for Okehampton and Moretonhampstead, said: 'I'm very proud of our local villages.'

He said the key to a good result was getting a group of committed local organisers to 'bully' friends and relatives into sponsoring the event.

'The bike ride originated in East Anglia where it's flat as a pancake, but it's spread around the country now and been adopted by Devon Historic Churches Trust.

'Here, we get some bike riders, a few horse riders but the great majority walk.'

And Mr Thistlethwaite paid tribute to the marvellous efforts made by Throwleigh organiser Ann Minugh, who had been involved in the bike ride for some 20 years.

Susan Taverner, Bike Ride treasurer, said all age groups took part in the event.

'Persons taking part range from five years to a lady of 70 who had bought one those new-fangled scooters two days before the event!

'Her brother, also aged 70, has asked me to try and find a penny farthing bicycle he could borrow for the 2001 event!'

Money raised from the event is being split between the Historic Churches Trust and the churches themselves.

The Trust awards funds to chapels and churches throughout the country which are in urgent need of repairs.

Others who also took part in the ride included St James' Church in Bondleigh which raised £100, Holy Trinity at Gidleigh which raised a fantastic £325 and St John's at Hatherleigh which raised £200.

So far, £21,000 has been raised, with more yet to be counted.

Anyone who would like to take part in the 2001 Bike Ride, which takes place on September 8, should contact county organiser Carol Plumstead on 01395 442625.