A man whose wife was cared for by a local blind charity has launched a fundraising effort to pay for repairs to the organisation's minibuses which were vandalised.

Mick Coleman, 43, of Ampleforth Drive, Lostock Hall, will do a 40-mile tandem bike ride from Preston to Morecambe with friend Paul Foster, from Blackpool, to help raise cash to fix the buses.

Two minbuses used by Galloway's Society for the Blind, Howick Park Avenue, Penwortham, were smashed up by yobs on January 5.

They broke the wing mirrors, ripped the wheel arch and wheel nuts from one of the vans and shattered the sky lights and windows in both vans.

They also smashed a window in the charity's building, and ripped an alarm box and a drain pipe off the wall.

Mick is doing the challenge in memory of wife, Diane, who died in September 2004.

He said: "She was well known and loved and got to do so many things with Galloway's help.

"She was also a member of the choir. It was a big part of her life.

"When I heard I was disgusted and wanted to do something." Mick, who has volunteered at the charity for 18 months, hopes lots of people would get involved.

"As long as you have a bike, you can get involved," he said.

"We need as much money as possible and I urge local businesses, especially taxi firms, to help.

Especially if they can help ferry people to and from Galloway's while the buses are fixed."

Anyone who wants to sponsor Mick should contact George Turner at Galloway's Society for the Blind on 01772 744148.

Anyone with information about the incident contact police in Penwortham on 0845 1 253545.