A TEAM of cyclists from Malta passed through the Ribble Valley as they set off on a 1,100-mile journey.

The 28-strong team used Stonyhurst College as the starting point for the eight-day round trip which will take in northern England and Scotland.

They hope to raise thousands of pounds to help Maltese people with kidney disease and to raise awareness of the Maltais Organ Transplant Support Group.

The team, which will travel with 13 backup workers, will sleep in locations such as church halls and breweries and will be filmed by a Maltese TV crew.

The cyclists, who have attracted praise from Malta British High Commissioner Vincent Fean, will speak to pupils at Stonyhurst about their experiences when they return next week.

Jonathan Hewat, marketing and admissions manager at the school, said: "This is a tremendous effort by the cyclists."