Three Shropshire cyclists are making final preparations ahead of a marathon bike ride to alpine France to raise money for charity.

Matt Craig, 28, of Hanwood, with Mike Penn, 20, and Ian Hodgson, 30, both of Shrewsbury, are due to set off next month on the 700-mile ride to Chamonix in France.

They hope to raise more than 32,000 for the County Air Ambulance during the trip, which includes stops in London and Paris.

Matt has been getting in some extra training by cycling to the helicopter base of the County Air Ambulance at RAF Cosford, where he met the duty flight crew.

He said: “We are looking forward to the challenge of tackling a marathon cycle ride. I was once airlifted by the Air Ambulance following an accident on the Stiperstones hills in 2005. I am therefore very keen to fundraise for such a worthy charity.”

Helen Hitchman, fundraising officer for the County Air Ambulance today praised the men for their efforts to support the charity, which needs to raise £5.6 million each year to ensure the life-saving helicopter service continues to fly across the region.

She said: “I am confident the cycle ride will raise a lot of money for County Air Ambulance and I would urge the local community to support the cyclists in their magnificent effort to support of the local air ambulance charity.”

Sponsor the men at www.justgiving.com/mattcraig1