Participants in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Cambridge to Norwich charity bike ride arrive at the Earlham Park after completing the route. PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY

Hundreds of cyclists pedalled their way from Cambridge to Norwich today to raise funds towards the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s new fundraising appeal.

The event, now in its second year, saw more than 1,000 riders pass through an autumnal landscape of fenland and patchwork fields as they tackled the 77-mile route between the two cities.

It started at Cambridge’s Midsummer Common and finished at Earlham Park in Norwich.

Johnny Whyte, 50, from Thorpe, Norwich, completed the ride in four hours and 11 minutes.

He said: “It was really good and well organised. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a great bike event.”

Last year, the event raised £33,000 which enabled the hospital to buy an incubator cot for its neonatal intensive care unit (Nicu) for premature and critically ill babies.

It is hoped a similar amount will be raised from today’s event which will be put towards the hospital’s newly-launched Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal.

David Fiddes, 40, who lives in Long Stratton and is a member of Norwich-based cycling club Iceni Velo, took part in the event with Patrick Aylmer, Steve Cox, Ian Golden, Chris Penrose and Frank Brumby.

They completed the ride in about four hours and 25 minutes.

Mr Fiddes said: “It was hillier than what I thought it would be. It was a quality ride and well organised.”

Meanwhile, Iceni Velo rider Mark Lawrence and a group of fellow club members rode from Norwich to Cambridge and back again - 152 miles - to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh). The 37-year-old from Norwich was inspired to take on the challenge after his friends Jim and Sonya Fitch’s daughter, Gracie, was rushed to the London children’s hospital last year. He has raised nearly £1,600 so far.