An intrepid church minister is cycling 1,100 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats to save a youth centre, writes Rosy Parveen.

The Rev Malcolm Atherton, 55, minister at Trinity Church, Conduit Road, Abingdon, set out on Saturday and hopes to complete the challenge in just 21 days.

The mileage target means a gruelling 60 miles must be completed every day and Mr Atherton admitted to being a little daunted by the challenge.

He said: "It's been difficult training. I've been riding up to Bicester and Witney whenever I can. I cycled to Salisbury last week. I have a schedule and am watching my diet. "They tell me it's hilly and by the time you get to Devon it will feel like you have gone halfway already, but it will have just begun."

The marathon ride is set to raise precious funds for The Abingdon Bridge (Tab), a youth project based in Bridge Street, which helps 700 young people each year to live independently. Tab needs £1,000 to stay open.

The journey will take Mr Atherton through some of the country's most difficult terrain.

He said: "People have been very generous. A man I've never met rang from Penzance to say he will put us up. "Scotland sounds like it will be a hoot - I will be staying with the Church of Scotland's Icelandic minister. I asked how I will know which house it is. He said, 'It's the only house you will come to.'

"I think the scariest day will be the Bridge of Cally and Tomintoul - these areas have the steepest climbs in Britain and are the first roads that get blocked up when it snows."

But support is strong on the ground as a 24-hour phone line will be manned back in Abingdon.

Anyone wanting to support Mr Atherton can e-mail him on malcolm@athertonians.freeserve.co.uk

Story date: Monday 03 May

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.