A team of Bristol cyclists are preparing to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats.

The ex-Bristol University students, Simon Williams, Jez Kent, Sara Bird, Nicola Lorraine, John Dawson and Sue Dawson and Billy Quain will be taking on the challenge in September to raise money for charity. They are fundraising for the British Heart Foundation, the Malaria Consortium and the MS Trust.

Simon, 44, of Kingsdown, expects the trip to take them 15 days.

The TV producer said: "We are all different ages but met as members of the scuba diving club at university and have kept in touch."

Simon and Sara are raising money for the MS Trust, because of a friend who is suffering with it.

John and Sue are raising money for the British Heart Foundation, in memory of their brother Richard, who died at the age of 41 from sudden heart failure.

Jez, 37, of Southville, is raising money for the Malaria Consortium after suffering with the illness himself for two years after a holiday to Mexico.

He said: "Now I'm cured I like the challenge of proving to myself that I'm now fit and healthy again and, in the process, raise some money for those whose lives are devastated by this disease."