A FAMILIAR face in the forest has raised funds for an African church from pedal power and the generosity of her supporters.

Ringwood resident Cis Brown, who is often spotted around the town and the New Forest on her bike, has spent 24 hours in the saddle covering 350 miles, raising £800 to replace a decrepit church and community centre in a remote part of Zimbabwe.

The congregation at Poulner Baptist Chapel has been raising money for the project, and when Cis heard the news, she signed up for a sponsored ride, which started and ended at the Elm Tree pub in Hightown.

She said: “This has been such a joyous weekend for me; I’ve so enjoyed being able to do something to help this valuable work.”