Two doctors have returned from a mammoth journey of almost 1,500 miles from the rock of Gibraltar to the rock of Portland.

Dr Paul Mason, who is set to retire from his role as a Portland GP at the end of June, and Tom Pierce, a consultant cardiac anaesthetist at Southampton General Hospital, cycled 1,423 miles setting off from Gibraltar on June 4 and arriving home on Portland on June 23.

Dr Mason is the chairman of the board at Osprey Leisure Centre, which was the official end point of the route, and the beneficiary of more than £3,000 raised by the pair.

All costs were covered by Paul and Tom so every penny raised goes directly to Osprey.

Paul said: “Although there were times over the last few weeks when the weather and conditions made it really hard, the feeling of accomplishment when we got back to Portland to cheering crowds was amazing.”

A total of £3,176 has been raised so far but there is still time for people to donate online at wonderful.org or in person at the centre. The money raised will be put towards new entrance doors and a swimming platform for younger children learning to swim.

Osprey Leisure Centre was set up as a charity then-called South Dorset Community Sports Trust in 2007 to run the former naval sports centre on Portland. It receives no regular funding and relies on user fees and its own fundraising.