MORE than 400 riders set out from Shipton Bellinger last weekend on a charity cycle sportive in aid of the local branch of the Samaritans.

Riders chose from 25, 50 or 100 mile courses over quiet country roads and were set off by the Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Jan Lovell on her last official duty of her term as Mayor.

“The numbers exceeded our expectations,” said Matthew Gimlette the event organiser. “We have raised over £13,000 for the Samaritans and we have had the most fantastic response and compliments on how it went.

"We had over 70 volunteers helping – providing rest station support or lunch, manning the registration desks or marshalling traffic – everyone was amazing with their support and a credit to the Samaritans.”

The event, a first organised by the Samaritans, attracted riders from all over the region and there are plans to do it again next year.

The Samaritans branches are run entirely by volunteers to help those in need of emotional support, providing this by phone, text, email and in face to face meetings.

The Salisbury and District Branch, which covers Andover to Salisbury and across to Warminster, costs £70,000 per year to run, and fundraising activities keep the branch running and create awareness of the service to attract new volunteers.