A COSSINGTON couple who have cycled from Somerset to Le Mans and back have raised more than £2,000 for charity.

Piers and Rachel Dyer used vintage pedal power to cycle more than 900 miles in less than a month, raising money for Mary's Beat.

Mary’s Beat is a charitable fund for people living in Somerset or Devon with physical and/or learning disabilities, to gain access to music or outdoor activities.

The fund was set up after Mary Christabel Dyer sadly died in 2017 and is administered by Somerset Community Foundation.

In 2000, Mary took part in a 24-hour, 85 mile ‘tortoise and hare’ cycle ride from Leatherhead to Le Mans.

Her father, Piers, pedalled Mary in her Duet, a wheelchair bicycle, and Mary’s sister Esther, and her aunt, Rachel, made up the rest of the team of cyclists raising money for the national charity SeeAbility.

Piers said: “It seems only fitting that, 18 years after our last charity bike ride to Le Mans, to do it again - but this time raising funds in memory of Mary."

Rachel set out on her 1984 Claude Butler tourer while Piers undertook the challenge on his 22-year-old Dawes tourer.

The pair smashed their fundraising target and in total raised around £2,000.

Piers added: "We arrived home a day ahead of schedule on Wednesday, July 25 after a memorable and enjoyable trip.

"We arrived in Cossington to bells and whistles and a wonderful welcome from family and friends who gave us kisses hugs, medals, glasses of fizz and lots of love."

Piers and Rachel's trip was 23 days long with five rest days and they rode a total of 912 miles.

To read a detailed blog, visit marysbeat1.blogspot.com.

Mary’s Beat remains open for grant applications, visit somersetcf.org.uk/marysbeat.