BLACKBURN resident Jon Purdy claimed a long-established record last week when he re-set the standard for the Bolton to Hawes (North Yorkshire) and back again ride.

Jon rides for the Bolton-based Lancashire Road Club and between Bolton Town Hall via Darwen and Blackburn, he had to contend with 38 sets of traffic lights and the same number on the return trip.

The final set were at Wilpshire north of Blackburn, then it was a clear run via the A59, Settle and Ribblehead to the Wensleydale town and the same way back again.

Jon left Bolton at 6am and returned a record-breaking 5hrs 49mins 09secs later after 125 miles at over 20 mph.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.