A CYCLIST from East Lancashire will have his head well and truly in the clouds when he embarks on a charity bike ride high in the Himalayan foothills of India.

David Nuttall, of Dill Hall Lane, Accrington, is set to ride 250 miles from Shimla to Delhi in northern India and hopes to raise thousands of pounds for mental health charity MENCAP.

Parts of the route are so high up that it is not uncommon to be above the cloud level or find clouds rolling along the street!

David, 35, a production manager at Great Harwood Foods, said: "India is one of those places that a lot of people hope to go to at some time in their life. I have never been there and it is the first time I have done anything like this. I don't belong to a cycle club or anything like that, I just ride as a hobby."

He was inspired to take up the challenge after seeing a poster inside the ambulance centre in Accrington.

David and more than 100 other riders will begin in the northern hill town of Shimla, and ride through some spectacular scenery on their 250-mile journey towards Delhi, down on the plains.

David has already organised two events to help raise money for the charity.

One was a ladies night at the Top Club in Clayton-le-Moors. The second event, a gentlemen's afternoon of exotic dancing at the club, is set for November 1.

For details about the event or to pledge sponsorship, call David on 01254 238910 (evenings).

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