A CHARITY Cyclathon at the Farnham Maltings on Saturday has raised at least £12,000 for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and the Frimley Park Hospital Breast Care Appeal.

Organisers The Rotary Club of Farnham have hailed the event “an unqualified success” with 130 riders from 33 teams taking part across five categories - 15 to 60 year olds, fancy dress, families, under 15s and over 60s.

For 12 continuous hours four exercise bikes, loaned for the day by Nuffield Health, were spinning hard as the riders sprinted as fast as possible to clock up the best possible distance over a carefully timed 50-minute total team time.

Rotary president Ian Sargeant said: “Twelve-and-a-half minutes sounds like a short ride, but some very fit riders were exhausted by the end of their stints.

“This event was the ingenious idea of one of our members, Mike Nicholls, implemented by our fund raising committee chaired by Mike Conoley.

“The entire club has been very supportive and the question immediately arising is – should we do another one next year?

“We have had superb support from many people and businesses in the town including Specsavers, Nuffield Health, Farnham Furnishers, Michael Conoley Associates, Farnham Maltings, The Herald and Ken Chandler.”