SIXTEEN staff from Cumbria County Council's highways team in West Cumbria will take part in a 140-mile Coast 2 Coast bike ride for the Great North Air Ambulance.

The team are Jim Annels of Wigton, Andrew Gibson of Cockermouth, Mark Hankin of Whitehaven, Lewis Heckles of Workington, Michael Holt-Baines of Allenheads, Gavin Murray of Carlisle, Ryan Pearson of Coulderton, Michael and Natalie Robinson of Moor Row, Shannon Rumney of Whitehaven, John Smitham of Workington, Jake Smye of Lowca, George and Nathan Sowerby of Penrith and Jason Tyson of Maryport.

They will set off from Whitehaven on Friday, June 29 and aim to reach Sunderland in three days.

DSD Construction has provided a welfare van, fuel and supplies, and the team will be helped by support vehicle drivers Les Bell of Brigham, Ricki Crawford of Maryport and Kevin Thompson of Workington.

Mark, a highways network engineer, said: "We’re really excited to get out on our bikes in aid of such a worthy local cause. The Great North Air Ambulance helps countless people every year and they were our first choice when it came to deciding who we wanted to raise funds for.

"Some of the team have done the C2C before, for others it will be their first time – but we’re all looking forward to it very much!

"We are extremely grateful to our friends at DSD Construction for their sponsorship and we just hope we get some more of this fantastic weather we’ve been having recently!"

To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/west-area-highways