A GROUP of youngsters are gearing up to ride across Devon this weekend in a bid to raise money to keep the newly opened BMX trails in Tavistock free to the public.

Nine young people from Tavi Riders and Tavistock Youth Café have set themselves the challenge of riding from Ilfracombe to the Tavi Trails along the Tarka Trail and the Granite Way, in a bid to raise money for the trails' Public Liability Fund.

The fund, which costs £900 a year, ensures that the trails can be open to the public for free. The Tavi Riders have already raised £400 from the Tavi Trails official opening, but another £500 is needed.

The riders, Byron Jackson, Joe Sampson-Hill, Luke Sampson-Hill, Luke Honey, Haze Curtis, Jack Base, Jordan Evans, Jake Tyrell and Chris Hull, all aged between 12 and 19, will be accompanied on the ride by youth workers Vicki Lloyd and Andy Jarrett and professional cyclist Andrew Reed, who has given up his time to help.

The event has been sponsored by the Original Pasty House, which will be supplying food for the journey, and Lifer BMX which is providing puncture repairs. The group has also received a donation from Tavistock Rotary Inner Wheel Club.

Vicki Lloyd said: 'They are really excited about the event. They have all just completed the Bikeability course, which they had to do before they could take part in the ride.'

The youngsters will be riding on Saturday and Sunday (July 16 and 17) and staying overnight at a hostel in Okehampton.

To greet them when they arrive at the Tavi Trails on Sunday will be the newly formed Friends of the Tavi Riders — a group of parents of the under 11s who use the trails.

The friends group will be holding its own sponsored ride for the under 11s at the trails from around 2pm, also raising money for the Public Liability Fund.

Anyone who would like to donate can do so by visiting the trails on Sunday afternoon, or by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or calling Vicki Lloyd on 01822 612851.