A TRIO of cyclists will have their faces to the wind when they tackle the John O’Groats to Land’s End bike ride.

Retained Overton firefighters Will Doel, 38, and Nick Simpson, 35, and student Rob Farmer, 16, aim to complete the trip from top to bottom, rather than the more traditional route starting from Land’s End.

It means that Mr Doel, of Pond Close, in Overton, Mr Simpson, of Foxdown, Overton and Mr Farmer, of St John’s Piece, Oakley, will be battling a prevailing headwind.

The men hope to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research, Naomi House Children’s Hospice and the Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus.

Mr Simpson, 35, said: “We firefighters were given bikes for the job so we started joking about doing a charity cycle, and here we are.

“The thing is none of us are any good at cycling, and doing this trip in a headwind will make it all the more difficult, but we wanted to be different.

“All members of the team have a connection to the charities in some way so they’re all very important.”

The team will set off on Wednesday and expect the journey to take about nine days. Mr Simpson’s father Alan will provide the support operation, pitching tents and driving a van.

To donate, visit www.end-2-end.co.uk.