A PAIR of enthusiastic cyclists are saddling up for separate attempts to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Wil Leaper, of Colwall, and Enos Turnbull, from Malvern, were both setting off from Cornwall today (Friday).

Mr Leaper aims to pedal the length of the UK in less than seven days, the time recorded when he completed the feat last year.

He was due to leave at 4am and, after cycling 280 miles in one stint, intended to reach Herefordshire tomorrow on his specially adapted racing bike.

Accompanying the 49-year-old Cave's Folly nursery proprietor will be friends Sean O'Toole and Steve Price. They will take turns between cycling and driving a new LPG-powered minibus on loan from Worcestershire County Council.

Through sponsorship, Mr Leaper hopes to raise funds for the Noah's Ark charity for bereaved children. Last time he raised £2,000. Anyone wishing to sponsor him should call 01684 540631.

Mr Turnbull, a former headmaster at St Joseph's Primary School and now an admin assistant at DEFRA, completed the same journey two years ago.

This time around he is taking it a bit easier, hoping to complete the journey in about two weeks to raise money for the Queen Elizabeth Young Persons' Cancer Unit, in Birmingham, and St Richard's Hospice. Last time he also raised £2,000. The 64-year-old said he enjoyed the first trip so much he always intended to do it again. "I'm not hurrying. I'm just going to enjoy it," he said. Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Turnbull, should ring Sally Tainton on 01905 763355.