A team of serving and retired Bradford police officers are gearing up for a 600-mile charity bike ride.

The nine-strong team of officers from Bradford, Manchester and London, will travel from Bradford to Berlin and back in June, in aid of the Soldier, Sailor, Airmen Families Association (SSAFA), a charity for former and current members of the armed forces and their families.

They are appealing for someone to lend them a nine-seater support minibus, and for help with the fuel costs.

Serving officers from the Bradford force who are taking part include Ian Fear and Graham Fox, both 41, and Richard Oxley, 43.

Also joining them is retired Manchester Police detective Garry Gregory, 58, who lives in Denholme.

Mr Fear said: “This is the first time we have done a cycle on the continent. We are all really looking forward to the challenge – it will be great fun.

“I chose SSAFA as they helped me out to find a job when I left the Navy. There are five of us in the group who are ex-forces covering all the armed forces and we are just a group who enjoy a giggle with our mates.

“None of us are ever going to be top athletes and it gets us away from the wives for a couple of weeks with benefit for someone else with the money.”

The friends are no strangers to charity challenges and some of the members have completed the John O’Groats to Lands End trek three times. They have raised about £25,000 since 2005 for children’s charities. This year they are hoping to collect £3,000.

The challenge, between June 11 and 20, will see them stopping along the way in hotels, hostels and army barracks.

Visit justgiving.com/teams/BobbiestoBerlin to make a donation. To help with transport, e-mail Ian Fear at ianrossfear@btinternet.com.

e-mail: jessica.nightingale@telegraphandargus.co.uk