DISABLED scooter riders have rolled into the record books with a marathon trip from John O'Groats to Land's End.

Maria McCluskey, Geoff West and Tony Palmer, of the Burnley Shopmobility group, drove 1,150 miles at eight miles per hour to raise more than £5,000 for the charity on the "Broadening Our Horizons" run.

They will enter the record books as the first team to go the distance in an electric scooter and in a disabled vehicle - and they're already looking for a new challenge.

Geoff, 61, of Hempshaw Avenue, Loveclough, said: "When we arrived at Land's End we were so pleased and we all had a hug, but then we realised it was all over. Now we're looking for something else to do."

The team took 17 days to complete the run on A and B roads, driving for two hours each every day. They stayed in bed and breakfast before starting off every morning at the point where they had finished. A mechanic with Falmouth company, Horizon, which lent the team the top-of-the-range scooter, drove a back-up van provided by Ford Motability carrying the other two team members.

Geoff, who suffers from arthritis, was thrown off the scooter after a tyre blew out.

Maria, 34, of Stoneclough, Bolton, said: "We drove round the corner and saw him on the floor next to the scooter and we thought he had been hit by a car. It was horrible but he was only winded, so we just started again the next day."

Horizon lent the team two extra buggies for the last stretch of the run so they could all arrive at Land's End together.

And the well-travelled scooter has entered the Land's End "Miles of Memories" museum, which houses many of the vehicles that have made the cross-Britain trip.

But the fun hasn't stopped for Tony Palmer, of Moorland Road, Burnley, as Horizon has given him a brand new scooter, worth £2,000.

He said: "I can't drive, so it's brilliant being able to get out on my own."

The team want suggestions for a new challenge and are even considering a pan-American journey from New York to Los Angeles.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can contact Tony Palmer on 01282 433619, or give at any Royal Bank of Scotland into the team's account named MDS Run.

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