Cyclists 'over the moon' after 24hr dash to Paris

A team of cyclists are celebrating after completing a challenge to reach Paris in less than a day.

The group of 13 cycled 280km (174 miles) to the Eiffel Tower in 23 hours and 33 minutes after setting off from East Clandon in Surrey.

They did the feat to raise money for Cherry Trees, a charity providing home-from-home respite care for children with disabilities.

"We are over the moon to have made it," said cyclist and Cherry Trees' head of fundraising, Rob Hope.

"We're now looking forward to a shower, a good meal and some sleep," he said. "We're all absolutely exhausted."

Mr Hope described the journey as "very hard at times", detailing that it was "hot" and "tough both physically and mentally".

So far the group has raised £19,282 for the charity.

Cherry Trees said the cyclists faced two punctures, one broken chain, one broken cleat and had an average of two hours sleep per person on the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe in northern France.

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