AN East Lancashire chiropodist has used pedal power to raise vital funds for young AIDS victims in South Africa.

For the second year in succession, David Tinker of Beaufort Close, Read, has completed the Cape Argus 70-mile cycle race along the Chapman Peak Route in Cape Town.

And he is already planning on making it three in a row by taking part again next year.

David finished the gruelling course in four hours and 15 minutes and raised over £2,000 for the One to One Children's Programme, a charity designed to help young AIDS victims.

The 48-year-old member of Clayton Velo Racing Club and Burnley and Pendle Touring Club revealed he became interested in the charity cycle when he first read it in a magazine.

And he enjoyed it so much the first time he decided to do it all again.

He said: "I went out last year to raise money for HIV sufferers so the children could have a better quality of life. The race was a lot easier this time because I knew the course and I managed to knock over an hour off my previous time."

Once the cycling was over he visited the Groote Schuur Hospital and the Nazareth Orphanage in Cape Town to see first hand the devastation caused by HIV and AIDS and the good work which was being done by the charity.

He added: "Their quality of life is so limited, I'm raising money for essential things like nappies and pyjamas.

"It's quite amazing work that they do across there and for me it's about more than just the race. I stay there for three nights and then I go to the hospital. Rather than just writing a cheque and sending it off at least that way I get to see how the money is being spent and what it is they are needing but it's very sad to see the sick children.

"Although the situation appears to be improving there are still grown ups and children with problems and they will unfortunately die. Children aren't supposed to be brought into this world to experience that kind of misery."