An intrepid church minister cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End has covered 500 miles and faced untold dangers - including a gunpoint encounter with a joking tractor driver, writes Roseena Parveen.

The Rev Malcolm Atherton, minister at Trinity Church, Conduit Road, Abingdon, set out on May 1 on an ambitious 1,100-mile journey to raise cash for The Abingdon Bridge youth project in Bridge Street.

Speaking from Congleton, near Manchester, Mr Atherton, 55, who is accompanied by another charity rider, said: "We were stopped by a man in a tractor coming in the opposite direction on a steep hill track in Bridgewater, Somerset. "He had a gun at his side, which was worrying.

"His tractor came blazing down the hill as we were trying to climb up it.

"When we told him who we were and explained we were on an official cycling route, he said: 'I'm wondering whether to shoot you now and put you out of your misery.'"

The journey has had pleasant moments, and the riders have even gathered a feathered following.

Mr Atherton said: "We have had a flock of swallows with us since Cornwall. It's amazing. "It's going brilliantly. It's been fascinating, but hard work.

"The change of scenery in every county is breathtaking, and I have cycled through unbelievable roadside flowers."

By tomorrow, Mr Atherton hopes to reach Edinburgh.

The Abingdon Bridge helps 700 young people each year to learn to live independently, and is fighting to raise funds to stay open.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mr Atherton's journey can e-mail him at alcolm@athertonians.

freeserve.co.uk

Story date: Wednesday 12 May

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