Two Mansfield businessmen — Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies owner Malk Hall and A Star Media director John Starkie — completed a 310-mile, 24-hour charity bike ride in aid of three charities.

They were raising money for Headway Nottingham, Headway UK – the brain injury association and Mansfield’s Fountaindale SEN School, which helps youngsters, aged three to 19, with physical and sensory needs.

The duo set off from Newcastle and arrived in London 23 hours and 30 minutes later, after overcoming strong headwinds and 7,500ft of climbing along the way.

Over the previous six months they undertook intensive training under the guidance of former world and Olympic medalist Bryan Steel.

Mr Hall said: “It was the hardest thing I have ever done. We are proud to have completed this challenge, almost 400 top cyclists took part in and John and I finished together in position 126th and 127th.

“We would have finished in the top 90 or so if we hadn’t lost about an hour when my bike chain broke.”

Hall-Fast began fundraising for the school almost three years ago and hopes to have raised more than £60,000 by the end of the year.

To make a donation go to www.hall-fast.com/fountaindale-school