Dunmow café-owner, Chris Turton cycled 91 miles on Sunday raising over £600 for Dunmow and District Stroke Support Group.

Starting and finishing at the Velodrome at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, Chris took a tour through rural Essex. He pedalled the 90-mile route of L’Etape a legacy event following last year’s Tour de France, which passed through Great Dunmow as well as Epping and Great Bardfield.

The day was organised for charity by Tour de France and the group Human Race and also offered 40 and 120 mile routes.

Chris, a designer who works at Heathrow Airport, said: “It was brilliant. The best bit was starting at the Vellodrome and coming into Essex. A few friends from my office came with me and they said they didn’t realise how nice Essex was – but also how hilly.”

He added; “The most difficult bit was the 60 miles in the open countryside, my legs just wanted to stop. But the last bit from Epping to London was mainly downhill.”

The Scrumptious Tea Rooms, in Dunmow, owned by Chris and his wife Jane, was exactly half-way, so that was a pit stop for peanut butter and jam sandwiches, some fruit cake and an energy shake before continuing on for another 44 miles.

Chris said he wanted to give the money to the Dunmow Stroke Support group to help with their activities.

He said: “They have held a weekly exercise group for the last 20 years to help people improve their health and encourage life after a stroke. Their chairman, Philip Milne was Mayor of Dunmow when we opened Scrumptious and he was the first person to come in, shake our hands and wish us well. It is nice to give something back.”

Councillor Milne told the Broadcast: “We are very pleased. This is brilliant. It’s very good of Chris, we appreciate his hard, energetic work. He must have had a tiring day. and thanks to all his sponsors.”

Cllr Milne said some of the money would be used for a canal outing at Harlow Mill in long boats at the end of October.”