A Norwich cyclist has smashed his fundraising target ahead of the last leg of his endeavour to cycle the length of Great Britain.

Chris Marchant and his Luton-based brother-in-law Simon Bowie have beaten the �500 target they set themselves by raising �1,360.

Chris, 61, from West End Street off Dereham Road, and 54-year-old Simon have completed an intimidating assortment of epic bike ride challenges over the space of two years, including the classic 1,000 miles in 16 days of Land's End to John O'Groats, all in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

The duo were inspired by family friend, Sarah Baragawanath, a mother-of-three who developed motor neurone disease at the age of 35 and is fighting its effects aged 40.

However, they still have to ride out one more time.

Tomorrow they will begin the final stage of their mammoth endeavour, riding from Edinburgh to Lowestoft in eight days.

Despite already smashing the target it appears that Chris, pictured, marks the achievement in a different manner.

He joked: 'By making a donation you won't be able to restore the feeling to our nether regions!

'But you will be providing more cash into funding research into the disease that afflicts Sarah and so many others.'

Two summers previously the pair cycled the 550 miles from Lowestoft to Land's End and were confronted by family, friends and acquaintances demanding that they accept donations to mark the achievement.

Chris added: 'I naturally nominated the MND Association as my very good friend John Preus' daughter suffers from this crippling condition.

'We were only hoping to raise �500, so we've done well. But I'm not surprised; the people around me are very generous.'

To make a donation to Chris and Simon's cause visit www.justgiving.com/chris-marchant

Are you raising money for charity? Call Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk