CHARITY cyclists have pedalled 180 miles from Newcastle to Edinburgh to raise more than £2,000 for a stillbirth and neonatal help group.

The Green Tree Cycling Squad completed the Coast and Castles route to raise £2,128.

Gillon Hopson, Simon Eltringham, Andrew Wilson, Matthew Walton, David Galloway, Ryan Pearson and Marcus Johnson took to the saddle for the challenge, which formed part of a campaign by staff and customers at The Green Tree pub, in Tudhoe, near Spennymoor, for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity (Sands).

Murrie Venis, landlord of The Green Tree, said: “I had two babies and I decided it would be nice to help a charity which aided those who were not so lucky.

“We have run a number of fundraising events over the last 18-months for the Durham and Wearside Sands’ charity branch.

“It’ll help the charity to continue providing the much needed support to anyone affected by the loss of a baby either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.”

The cyclists took two days to complete the ride and have collected more than £4,000 for the Sands charity over the last 18 months. Last year they did a coast to coast ride which raised £800 for the Great North Air Ambulance.

Anyone wanting to help support the fundraising can visit just giving.com/teams/GTCS