A young man has ridden the circumference of the Netherlands in less than a week - to boost two charities which provide vital support for people with mental health problems.

Norwich Evening News: Jamie Brown, who has cycled the circumference of The Netherlands to raise money for mental health charities. Pic: Dan Grimmer.Jamie Brown, who has cycled the circumference of The Netherlands to raise money for mental health charities. Pic: Dan Grimmer. (Image: Archant)

Keen cyclist Jamie Brown, 22, has just returned from his exhausting whistle-stop Dutch tour and has raised more than £1,000 for the charities Mind and Bipolar UK.

He says he wanted to help those charities as the mental health of people close to him has had a significant impact on his life.

Mr Brown, who lives in Norwich and works as a video editor and graphic designer at Swardeston-based Production Bureau, started his endurance trip in Rotterdam.

He then embarked, alone and with no support, on a huge loop taking in towns and cities such as Breda, Venray, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Groningen and The Hague. He also pedalled his way through stunning scenery in a number of national parks and nature reserves.

Norwich Evening News: Jamie Brown cycled more than 600 miles in the Netherlands to raise money for two mental health charities. Pic: Jamie Brown.Jamie Brown cycled more than 600 miles in the Netherlands to raise money for two mental health charities. Pic: Jamie Brown. (Image: Jamie Brown)

He returned to Norwich on Sunday morning, where friends were waiting to welcome him back at the city's railway station.

He said: 'I love cycling and I love travel, while quite a few people close to me have suffered from mental health issues, so I decided to do something to raise money for Mind and Bipolar UK.

'Both Mind and Bipolar UK provide support and guidance for people affected and those around them, as well as raising awareness, carrying out research, and advocating for greater understanding and services for mental health.

'And the trip was great, The Netherlands is a fantastic country.

'There were some sections where it was hard going - such as on the last day when I was cycling into a headwind, but it really is beautiful and a great place for cycling.'

Mr Brown had to pack lightly for his trip, taking just essentials, including tools and a couple of changes of clothes, on a bike not built for touring, but he said his set of wheels had done him proud.

He said: 'I am renowned at work for getting punctures and I am always having to fix them during lunchtimes. But on this trip I didn't get any at all.'

People can still make donations to Jamie Brown's Netherlands Cycle Challenge, to help boost Mind and Bipolar UK by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamieLBrown