THREE firefighters from Bury were part of a team who blazed a trail across the country on their bikes to raise money for two worthy causes.

An 11-strong group, with a support driver, completed a 150-mile coast-to-coast cycle in three days.

They dipped their rear wheels in the Irish Sea at Whitehaven before dipping their front wheel in the North Sea at Sunderland.

Among the participants was firefighter Mark Lee, aged 43, from Sunnybank, who is now in remission after being diagnosed with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and returned to operational duties earlier this month.

Firefighters Peter Griffiths and Kate Lonsdale, both also from Bury, took part alongside colleagues from red watch at Heywood fire station.

Peter said: “We decided to raise money for the Firefighters Charity and also Cancer Research UK, in recognition of Mark’s situation. We have so far raised £4,000 and are still raising funds.

“The first leg of the cycle was the hardest as the weather on that Saturday was horrendous. It also fitting that we stopped off in Penrith as the end of that first day, where the firefighters’ rehabilitation centre is.”

Other members of the cycling team were: station commander Ian Tracey, watch manager Neil Fox, Chris Fowles, Ian Edgar, Paul O’Malley, Gary Aston, Ian Matthews, and retired fireman Ian Edwards, while John Rourke was the driver.