WHITCHURCH Councillor Dave Titcomb has returned home after completing a charity bike ride from Newbury to Paris.

Cllr Titcomb completed the 230-mile cycle on September 13 as part of a 41- man team from Bayer Medical.

The team aimed to raise £20,000 for children’s hospice Naomi House, but actually managed to smash this target, raising over £23,000 for the charity.

Cllr Titcomb, who sits on Whitchurch’s Leisure and Environment Committee, was delighted with how the cycle went.

He said: “It was a tough challenge but it was very enjoyable.

“We were at a work conference today and they mentioned what a great example of teamwork it was and what people can do as a team, not just by raising money for a good cause, but also as a physical challenge as well.”

All 41 starters finished the three-day cycle, which started with a ride from Newbury to Portsmouth before the group took an over-night ferry to Caen.

The cyclists then spent the second day cycling across to Evreux before taking the final 70-mile trip down to Paris on the third and final day, where they celebrated with a bottle of Champagne under the Eiffel Tower.

The team then returned to England the next day to find out that they had smashed the fundraising target of £20,000, with the current total currently standing at £23,810.

A spokesman for Naomi House, which cares for children with terminal illnesses, was thankful to all those involved.

He said: “We’ve followed their progress closely and it’s been both an incredible and inspirational story.

“We would like to send out our thanks to everyone who took part and all those generous people who gave their donations.”

The donation page is still open for anyone wishing to give some money.

Visit justgiving.com/newbury2paris to get involved.