A PAIR of friends from Bourton-on-the-Water will clock up over 1,000 miles this summer as they cycle back to the Cotswold village from Barcelona.

Tony Hughes, landlord of Bourton’s Kingbridge Inn, along with best friend Kevin Goodwill will complete the epic challenge on a specially made tandem bicycle.

“After having a few beers, we were joking and somebody mentioned cycling 1,000 miles for charity,” Tony said.

“People said we will never do it and, with me being stubborn, I put the team together and now we are only a month away.”

The duo, who will set off from the Spanish city on Thursday, May 8, have already raised more than £5,000 for local charity Kate’s Home Nursing.

Based in Stow-on-the-Wold, the charity provides home care for terminally ill people in the last stages of their illness.

Tony, 32, said: “We have all lost people to cancer. I think everybody will come into contact with a charity like this at some point in their life.”

The two cyclists, who hope to complete the 1,200 mile journey in 17 days, will have to eat around 7,000 calories every day to ensure they have enough energy.

“I’m nervous and excited at the same time. This is by far the biggest challenge I have ever done in my life,” Tony said.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Tony and Kevin can do so in person by visiting the Kingsbridge Inn in Bourton.