A MAN from Basingstoke is celebrating after cycling from London to Cologne - all for charity.

Mark Austin was one of the 67-strong team that took part in the mammoth four day journey.

Setting off from Trafalgar Square, the group travelled to Harwich, caught the ferry to the Netherlands before ending up at Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

The team raised £30,000 for the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation, which aims to reduce hunger across the world, with funds from this particular ride going towards supplying meals and healthy lifestyle programmes at Action for Children centres in Buckinghamshire, London and North Lanarkshire.

Commenting on the experience, Mark said: “This has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life both physically and mentally.

“With the support of the wonderful Herbalife members with me and Challenge Central, I managed to complete the course and feel so proud to have been part of this epic experience, raising much needed funds for HNF and Action for Children.”

The money raised will be used to provide cooking sessions.