Cyclists Stuart Barrick and Rob Fowler were blown off their bikes as they attempted a charity bike ride.

The drama happened as the pair were taking part in a 140-mile coast-to-coast ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland.

"The idea of starting from Whitehaven is that you are supposed to have the prevailing wind off the Irish Sea behind you," explained Stuart, a police officer in Skipton.

"But it worked in quite the opposite way for us. We had to ride against strong winds and driving rain for the first couple of days."

And they were even blown off their bikes at one stage.

They followed a route devised by cycling group Sustrans and they covered the 140 miles in three days.

Stuart and Rob, manager of Embsay Football Club, hope they will have raised about £500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Skipton Ford loaned a back-up vehicle, and further sponsorship came from businessman Eric Lewthwaite.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.