A COUPLE have completed a tremendous challenge by cycling more than 1,000 miles on a tandem.

Peter and Janet Walker, of East Street, Southend, have just completed a Land's End to John O'Groats cycle ride, in support of the National Kidney Federation, after their son Denis had a kidney transplant in May last year.

Mr Walker, 52, said: "It's something we have always thought about doing and now seemed a good opportunity.

"Our son had a kidney transplant last May and we thought we ought to try to put something back after all the treatment he has received.

"We had been planning the trip for weeks - I had booked all the B&Bs before we set off, even to the point of buying our rail tickets back from Thurso at the end of the ride.

"We were very lucky with the weather - no rain at all in England or Wales, and only a day and a half in Scotland."

Mrs Walker, 53, said: "We rode through some beautiful countryside and have gained a lot of ideas for future cycling holidays along the way."

However, their bike, a Thorn Raven Discovery Tandem, suffered some damage.

Mr Walker said: "We had one shredded tyre and a blow-out, and a broken gear cable, but the only real threat to the trip was when we broke a lump of casting off the hub gear.

"Everything was under great strain: riders and luggage weighed more than 30 stone, and some of the route took us off-road, particularly the Great Glen Way."

The couple, who run a chess tutoring business, covered 1,051 miles in 128 hours' cycling and climbed 57,435 feet - more than twice the height of Everest.

Donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/lejogtan dem.