CYCLISTS of all ages and abilities took to the Furness roads in the name of charity.

More than 400 people got involved in the Tour de Furness on Sunday.

They rode along four route - 50 miles, 23 miles, 13 miles and five miles, all starting and ending at Roose Conservative Club.

The Rotary of Club of Furness organised event is a huge fund success, having generated more than 450,000 in the last 20 years. It is expected to raise around £30,000 this year, with cash being split between the main benefactor St Mary's Hospice and around 50 charities.

This year's ride took place just two days after Tour of Britain fever hit, Barrow, Ulverston and the Lakes.

Pam Dilks, of the Inner Wheel of Barrow, was among a team of six riders doing the 23 and 13 miles Tour de Furness events.

Mrs Dilks, 72, of Walney, said: "It's a great event, we do it every year. It's for charity and it a very social event.

"We watched the Tour of Britain at Ulverston and it was tremendous for the area. It definitely inspired us for this weekend."

There was good support for the Tour de Furness from children and young people involved with the Furness Flyers and Barrow Central Wheelers clubs. The local young people compete in cyclocross events across the north of England, with Furness Flyers training at Furness Academy, in Barrow on Monday evenings. Sophie Law, 10, of Barrow and Furness Flyers did the 23 mile ride, she said: "Tour de Furness has been really good. We stopped for a Roy's ice cream on the coast road. It was really windy on the coast road, but the wind was behind us. It's good doing this for charity."

The Rotary of Club of Furness, thanked everyone who makes the event a success, including partners from the Rotary Club of Barrow and the Rotary Club of Furness Peninsula, all the sponsors, partners, marshals and riders.