THE DEADLY Sars virus has scuppered Bridport woman June Jach's plans for a 420km fundraising cycle trip in China at the end of May.

June was delighted at the response to the News article in last week's paper appealing for sponsors but by the end of the day she'd heard from trip organisers Mencap saying the adventure was off.

She said: "I went from a real high to being devastated. Sars got worse in Beijing and I can completely understand. I half expected it and if I had not had a call on Friday with the news over the weekend I would have started having reservations, having asthma myself, if anyone's going to get anything it would be me."

June may never see China - although Mencap has offered her the chance to go next summer her daughter is getting married and her son is graduating so that's not an option - but she's still keen to go somewhere and carry on raising money for Mencap.

"I have three options, to go next summer or to go to Egypt at about the same time as I would have gone to China or go to Vietnam in October.

"The prospect of having to keep up the training all that time is daunting. I am really undecided at the moment," she said.

June has already talked to Mencap about the temperatures she can expect in Eygpt as she is worried about the heat.

If she decides to go in October she will step up the pressure on the fundraising front, especially as Mencap will be out of pocket through cancelling the China trip.

Mencap's decision to cancel the trip will put other Bridport residents' minds at ease.

Mrs Shirley Pye from Bridport had been considering contacting June to point out the dangers of bringing back the virus to West Dorset. She was not alone in her concerns, she said.

Mrs Pye said: "It's great what she's doing but what worries me is that she could incubate it and bring it back to Bridport.

"I am not being nasty - I am just concerned for everybody. It's all very well raising money for one thing and coming back with a deadly virus. I am hoping she'll cancel it, you've only got to have one person bringing it back. It would be irresponsible."