A RECORD number of cyclists pedalled to raise tens of thousands of pounds for a Basingstoke hospice last weekend, at one of the town’s biggest charity events.

Around 1,300 people took part in this year’s Big Wheel, for St Michael’s Hospice, generating £60,000 for the Aldermaston Road-based charity.

A new 63-mile route took riders from Down Grange, in Pack Lane, Kempshott, to Hannington, Wherwell, near Andover, Micheldever, Axford and Medstead, near Alton, before returning to Basingstoke via the hills of Farleigh Wallop.

The event, now in its 21st year, also included 31, 18 and five-mile routes, and, for the second year running, Little Wheel gave younger riders the opportunity to also take part.

Councillor Dan Putty, the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, started the races, as David Monkman, chief executive of the hospice, sounded a klaxon.

The changeable weather on Sunday meant cyclists were warned about high temperatures and standing water.

Iain Cameron, director of income generation at St Michael’s Hospice, said the number of people attending rose from just over 1,000 in 2012 to more than 1,300 this year, adding an extra £10,000 in sponsorship. He put this down to the event’s new 63-mile longest route, up from 50 miles.

He said: “That’s appealing to more serious cyclists but it is also attracting people from out of the area. That is something we have not seen in previous years. We are really pleased.

“Also with the British riders in the Tour de France, more and more people are taking to the road, so that can only be a good thing for us.”

Among the riders this year were friends, Ian James and Matt Bateman, for whom the Big Wheel was one of four cycle rides they are doing to raise money for the hospice.