SADDLE sore pals Mark Wallwork and Stephen Barton raised nearly £3,000 for charity through a 900-mile bike ride.

Dentist Mark, aged 45, who works in Tonge Fold and engineer Stephen rode almost 130 miles a day to get from Land's End to John OGroats in just one week.

The friends, from Swinton, raised £2,000 for St Annes Hospice in Little Hulton and £600 for Manchester's Christie Hospital. Stephen, aged 50 said: "It was a fantastic, but exhausting experience."