NEWCOMER to Britain Seid Ahmed got on a bike for the first time to visit one of country's top tourist spots and raised £360 for Bury Hospice.

Seid, who has started a new life in Bury after being forced to flee Ethiopia because of his political views, joined friend Derek Roe from Greenmount to cycle from Heaton Park to The Big One at Blackpool. He wanted to give something back to the community which has made him feel welcome

Because his current asylum status means that he cannot take up paid work, Seid has become heavily involved in voluntary work. He has helped out at Bury Oxfam shop, and the Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as Bury African Outreach.

Seid said: "I did not know that there were so many hills in Britain!

"The last four miles were the hardest. There was a strong head wind and even though I could see Blackpool Tower it did not seem to be getting any nearer."

This week he presented Bury Hospice with a stick of Blackpool rock and £360. The two also raised money for Weston Spirit, Diabetes UK and Christie Hospital.

Seid is still waiting to see if his asylum application has been successful.