EIGHT Bury firefighters have got on their bikes for charity.

The lads from Bury Fire Station's Green Watch are currently taking part in a marathon 300-mile bicycle ride to Bury's French twin town of Angouleme.

It is hoped that the epic journey, which started in earnest yesterday from the French port of St Malo, will raise £2,000 for the children's ward at Fairfield General Hospital and the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

The team left Bury on Sunday morning (June 17) watched by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillor and Mrs Paul Nesbit.

And pictured with the borough's first citizens are members of Green Watch, who are taking part in the fund-raising effort. They are (from left) Dave Adamson, Dave Charlesworth, Mark Thomas, Roger Gubbins, Gary Powell, Dave Baxter, Steven Marsden and Keith Hadley.

They all then sailed from Portsmouth to St Malo for the start of the sponsored ride.

Six riders will be on the road at any one time with the remaining two team members driving a support vehicle. The firefighters are looking to cover 60 miles per day and will be staying overnight at camp sites along the route.