A Royal Navy veteran from Ashby has travelled the length of the country by bike – all in the name of fishermen.

Andy Smith, 56, took on the almost 900 mile bike ride with his friend Julian Waring, who used to live in Ashby, but has since moved to Cornwall.

The pair set off from Land’s End, in Cornwall known as the most westerly point of the United Kingdom’s mainland on Saturday, June 17.

It took ten days of cycling between 90 and 95 miles a day to reach John O’Groats, in Scotland – the north-eastern tip of the UK.

The journey was all in the name of charity and they raised more than £5,000 for the Fishermen’s Mission.

The Fishermen’s Mission is a dedicated group helping support fishermen by offering financial and pastoral support to them.

They help any fishermen who have been in an accident, are taken ill or face poverty, as well as offering support to families who have lost a family member who worked at sea.

Mr Smith said: “Well I was born in Plymouth and when you grow up around there, especially when I did in the 70s you realise what a massive part the fishermen play, and how dangerous the job can be.”

“I’m delighted though that we’ve completed this challenge, we’ve seen some amazing countryside and met some wonderful people.”

The ride did not go without issues though, with Mr Smith spending three hours of the sixth day in the accident and emergency department in Lancaster.

The journey took them through Preston and a mixture of torrential rain and a rough path led to Mr Smith falling off his bike.

“I came off my bike in Preston. There was a set of disused tram tracks across the path and the bike got stuck. I ended up spending three hours in A&E in Lancaster with a sprained arm,” Mr Smith said.

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“They mended my arm up and sent us on our way, but at least it’s there as a reminder!”

The pair set off during the country's mini heat wave in June, experienced torrential downpours in the middle of the journey and heavy winds when travelling through Scotland.

The pair highlighted the ninth and penultimate day as their favourite, as they left Inverness and travelled across the top north coast of Scotland.

“When we left Inverness, cycling not on roads but along small tracks, the scenery was absolutely breath taking. We cycled along beside these lovely streams and rivers and hardly saw anybody the whole day. That definitely stands as the most memorable day of it,”

The two men are now looking forward, and are planning on doing a similar sponsored bike ride in about three years’ time.