A MAGISTRATE has completed a gruelling 1,200 bike marathon from John O'Groats to Land's End to help TV personality Fern Britton raise £150,000 for charity.

Judith Halton, of Harden, only began serious cycling two years ago when she got in the saddle to ride around Sri Lanka in aid of the Genesis Research Trust after a friend fell ill with cancer.

The following year she did a similar fundraising trip by riding in Tanzania and the mother-of two grown-up children has now finished her north to south British challenge.

"It was the best thing I've ever done," said delighted Mrs Halton, 54.

"There was such a fantastic sense of achievement after 50 miles a day for 19 days and when we got to Land's End we celebrated with champagne, cream teas and Cornish pasties."

Fern Britton was one of some 24 riders who did the whole journey and had set the shared charity target at £57,000 as she was celebrating her 57th birthday

But sponsorship brought in nearly three times that amount and will go to the Genesis Research Trust which specialises in fertility and birth issues.

"There was great camaraderie and no accidents as we did nearly 1,200 miles on country lanes to keep us off main roads," said Mrs Halton, who has a Giant road bike.

"We had some dreadful weather with wind and rain and got soaked within ten minutes of starting out, but everyone just kept on going."

"I only started riding two years ago when I went along to Ilkley cycling club on an old mountain bike.

"They were really helpful and got me going properly and soon I was riding 100 miles a day."

A keen golfer who plays at Shipley Beckfoot club, Mrs Halton said she had not been particularly fit before taking up cycling, but now loved every mile.

"John o' Groats to Land's End was absolutely amazing and I wasn't stiff at all," she said.

"Now I'm looking forward to my next trip, which is another charity ride in India later in the year. I like to have a non-stop life." Mrs Halton said.

Anyone who wants to help her fundraising can do so through her Justgiving page.