A HUSBAND and wife from Felsted are to cycle from Dover to Cape Wrath on a tandem for charity. Four years ago Jamie and Judy Mackay took their bikes on a trip from John O Groats to Lands End, in the process raising around £7500 for charity. We had a re

A HUSBAND and wife from Felsted are to cycle from Dover to Cape Wrath on a tandem for charity.

Four years ago Jamie and Judy Mackay took their bikes on a trip from John O'Groats to Lands End, in the process raising around £7500 for charity.

"We had a really good time and now we have both turned 50 we felt it would be good to do another long distance ride," said Mrs Mackay.

As both were brought up in Kent, this time they have planned their route diagonally across the mainland, starting at Dover in the south east corner and finishing in the most north western point, and will be riding a tandem.

The trip, which starts in a few weeks' time, will take about 18 days.

"It's really good because at least on a tandem we can have a good chat," added Mrs Mackay, who helps her husband with his agrochemical business.

Mr and Mrs Mackay have intricately planned their journey and intend to stay at bed and breakfasts along the route.

Mrs Mackay said: "When we cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End we had to make about 20 overnight stops, so we have a good idea of how to plan the route.

"We'll be beginning early each morning, around 7am or 8am, and try to get as much done by lunchtime as possible.

"We're funding all of our own accommodation - this is almost like our summer holiday - so every penny pledged is guaranteed to go to the two charities."

Essential items such as clothes and waterproofs will be transported on panniers attached to the tandem, which is expected to cover up to 100 miles in a day.

The 920-mile trip will have some gruelling sections, where the going is expected to be tough.

Mrs Mackay said: "The Pennines will be one of the hardest legs, but the west coast of Scotland might prove tricky too if we come up against terrible weather.

"Hopefully our daughter, who's at university in Scotland, will be able to come out and meet us at some stage too."

The cash they will raise in sponsorship will be split evenly between Essex Air Ambulance and Felsted Aid for Deprived Children, which delivers .humanitarian aid to Chernihiv, near Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

- TO MAKE a donation call Mr and Mrs Mackay on 01371 820483 or e-mail them at jufelsted@aol.com