A PRESTON supermarket boss is celebrating his store's 150th anniversary by cycling 60 miles on one of his old-fashioned grocery delivery bicycle.

The cycle, complete with an enormous wicker basket, weighs 56lbs, has no gears and suspect brakes. But that didn't stop Edwin Booth of Booths Supermarkets getting on his bike for a practice run at the company's Preston depot on Queen Street, Avenham on Wednesday (June 4).

He will start his mammoth ride on June 12 from the store on Highfield Road, in Blackpool, which was the site of the very first Booths shop, to the chain's newest store in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Commenting on the unusual way of celebrating the occasion Edwin said: "I wanted to do something genuinely difficult on the day of the 150th anniversary in honour of my great great grandfather Edwin Henry Booth.

"He started off in life against the odds. My cycle from the town of his very first store to the town of the newest supermarket is in recognition of his great courage and vision in building himself a future."

The store in Blackpool was opened by Edwin Senior in 1847.

He left an unhappy home at the age of ten and later started the business in the famous seaside resort at the age of 19 - with £80-worth of borrowed stock.

The money raised by Edwin on the charity ride will all go to help Trinity Hospice in Blackpool.

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