A TRIO of cyclists completing an endurance ride were met by a welcome party of classic scooters at the end of a charity challenge.

The exhausted fundraisers had ridden 320 miles over three days, from Skipton in Yorkshire, to Weymouth.

The ride was organised to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity by keen cyclist Geoff Burgess in aid of his friends Nick Cochrane, who lost his son Harry to a brain tumour, and Tom Ashe, who passed away as a result of a tumour in June.

Geoff and his fellow riders, Alain Haigh and Paul Hezelgrave, were met at The Spice Ship, in Preston, by more than 30 scooters representing various clubs.

Organisers had hoped that Tom would still be alive to see this challenge completed.

Geoff said: "Tom has been my best mate since I have been in Weymouth, so when he was diagnosed I just wanted to do something special.

"It's for all of them. It's respecting friendship.

"I didn't know how it would feel, but it just felt strange to have actually achieved it.

"Tom just touched so many people.

"For a doorman to have that much respect just shows what a great guy he was."

Tom was well-known in Weymouth as both a martial arts instructor and a constant presence on the doors of the town's nightclubs.

He was a member of the Low Riders Scooter Club and many of the club's members came along to greet the cyclists at the end of their challenge.

Representatives from the Birmingham E-Types, Modrapheniacs, All or Nothing and English Rose also came along to provide support.

Kevin Benson, who runs the Low Riders, said: "I am really proud of this scooter club. Tom would love this.

"He loved scooters and all of these guys were his mates."

Steve Jordan of the Birmingham E-Types, who met Tom before he moved to Weymouth, said that Tom's "legacy" will be fundraising events like this one. 

He added: "Some good stuff will come of it.

"Never have I seen a bloke with so many friends."

A fundraising page set up by the cyclists has already raised nearly £900 for the Brain Tumour Charity, with money still coming in.

To donate, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/skiptonweymouth320.