A TEAM of nine firefighters cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End for charity passed through Okehampton on their mammoth journey last week.

Averaging 100 miles a day, the team of firefighters from Plymouth were raising money for the Fire Brigade Benevolent Fund and Parkinson's UK.

The team had cycled past Loch Ness and Fort William, passed through Glasgow and the Lake District, and skirted the Welsh border before their arrival in Okehampton.

The team, led by Steve Hill, were greeted at Okehampton Fire Station by Okehampton deputy mayor Cllr Rev Mike Davies, Cllr Kevin Ball and station officer Ian Donovan. The Parkinson's charity is one close to Steve, whose father suffers with the disease.

The team were welcomed into Okehampton with pasties and cakes.

Cllr Davies said: 'The cyclists all seemed to be in good spirit despite the heavy rain on entering Okehampton, and having seven hundred miles of cycling behind them.

'It was good that we could give them a warm welcome into the town.'