A GROUP of Merseyside bobbies pounded a different beat when they took to two wheels to raise money for a children's charity.

The 11-strong team, which included officers from St Helens, collected £3,500 in sponsorship from local and national business firms before taking on a tough 127-mile cycle run along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.

All the money will be donated to CHICS (Children's Canal Support) and PC Steve Laughton, one of the riders, said: "I would like to thank all our sponsors, particularly Paul Stead from Thatto Heath Cycles, for all the help they have given us. We only had five weeks to raise the cash and were very pleased with the amount. I would also like to thank our back-up driver, Val Richmond of Richmond Motor Services in Haydock.

"We were all absolutely shattered at the end but we must be gluttons for punishment because everyone has agreed to do another charity run over an even tougher course next year!"

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