1,000-mile cyclists nearing Shropshire

More than 600 cyclists - including several from Shropshire - were today reaching the halfway mark in an epic, nine-day, 1,000-mile ride from John O'Groats to Land's End.

The Ride Across Britain reached England yesterday afternoon, where a kilted Scottish piper played a farewell salute.

They were completing their second successive 130-mile day and reached base camp in Ullswater, in the Lake District, yesterday evening.

Tomorrow afternoon, the riders are due to sweep to a camp in Ludlow, having started the day in Manchester and passed through Hanmer, Bettisfield, Baschurch, Leaton, Montford Bridge, Cruckmeole, Longden, Bridges, Long Mynd, Church Stretton and Ape Dale.

Shropshire Star writer Andy Richardson, who is among the riders, said: "The pace has already proved too hot for some and there were a number of casualties who didn't complete yesterday's stage."

But the vast majority are in fine fettle after travelling 260 miles in two days.

"When we left Gretna Green yesterday there was a kilted piper playing a salute and a number of TV crews have filmed riders at various points during the past three days."

Mr Richardson added that people were "making a monster" of the Long Mynd, which, at 1,600-plus feet is the highest climb.

He said: "People at dinner last night were describing a one-in-four hill that is impossible to navigate and requires riders to dismount. The Long Mynd may be a lot of things, but it's not that."

Mr Richardson also rode wheel-to-wheel with Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Romero as he left Scotland yesterday morning.

He said: "It lasted about two seconds. There was a rush of wind, a cheery 'hiya' and she'd gone. It was like the hare and the tortoise, with me playing the role of the guy in the shell."

Ride Across Britain is the biggest organised 'end-to-end' attempt and will boost Great Britain's 2012 Paralympic effort