A CRICKETER is swapping his bat and pads for a bike as he sets off on a fundraising effort for his club.

Oli Pascoe, 20, aims to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to raise £10,000 for Stanton Harcourt Cricket Club. The money will be used to build a new pavilion for the team.

Mr Pascoe, of Eynsham Road in Sutton, near Stanton Harcourt, said he came up with the idea while at the pub with team mates.

He said: “It was definitely a pub idea. At the start there were about six of us that were going to do it, but they all dropped out one by one. I don’t drink, so I’m the only one that knew what he was agreeing to.”

Mr Pascoe, who is an all-rounder for the club, set off on Friday and said he thought it would take about two weeks to cycle the 874-mile route. Mr Pascoe said he would be posting regular updates of his trip on the cricket club’s website, statonharcourtcc.co.uk for anyone who wants to keep up to date with his trip.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so by calling 01865 883695.