A group of motor vehicle students from City College Norwich have raised a combined total of over �1,800 for charity by completing a 'virtual' cycle from Norwich to Afghanistan.

The 28 students took on the 630-mile cycle challenge to raise funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes by cycling 'virtually' from Norwich to Kandahar in the war-torn country.

The national diploma level three vehicle maintenance and repair students, worked in two teams and took it in turns to cycle on static bikes donated by Halfords for 10 hours over two days.

Their virtual journey started in Norwich where Group B, who were raising money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance by cycling 330 miles, the equivalent distance from Norwich to Heathrow Airport, via the various air ambulance offices around East Anglia.

Group A, who were raising money for Help for Heroes, cycled 300 miles – the equivalent distance from Afghanistan's capital Kabul to Kandahar along the highway.

Ollie Seaman, 18, from Snetterton, team leader for Group A said: 'We picked Help the Heroes because it is a good charity, my mate who was in the army lost his leg and the charity has really helped him.'

Jack Foley-Turner, 19, from Great Yarmouth, team leader for Group B, said: 'It feels very rewarding to of raised money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. We all trained very hard and it feels really good to have done it.'

Steven Smithurst, lecturer, City College Norwich, said: 'The students have done really well, they were really keen to do it and have worked really hard. It is a hard thing to do, but they have done exceptionally well and have made a difference to their chosen charities.'

If you would like to add to the funds raised by the students, go to www.justgiving.com/ ride-to-kandahar

Have you got a story for Local Life? Call editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk