RATHER than head off to Newquay or lounge in the park, a group of Chadlington friends have celebrated finishing school with a more tasking endeavour.

William Ingram, Conrad Godfrey and Hallam Duckworth set off on a 20-day charity cycle to Rome on Saturday.

The trio are raising cash for Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House hospice and for the East Africa Crisis Appeal. They have raised £1,508 of their £2,500 target so far.

Mr Godfrey, 18, said of the 1,200 mile trip: “Last year we went to Paris and this year we thought we would go one better.”

The former Cotswold School, Gloucester, pupils’ trip to Paris raised about £2,000.

To donate to their latest fundraising attempt visit justgiving.com/chadtorome2011.