THEY may be thousands of miles away from home, completing a gruelling cycle challenge, but three local men still found time to support our campaign to save the Hythe Ferry.

Vaughan Pyne, Ian Webb and Jonathan Coppack left the Waterside last November to cycle from the southern tip of South America to the north, as reported in the Daily Echo.

They aim to finish their mammoth charity expedition passing through nine of the continent's 13 countries in May.

The boys have been testing their endurance levels to the limit to try to complete the challenge within six months and recently reached Colombia.

Just days ago they stopped for a ferry photo opportunity at the official equator crossing point in Ecuador - a massive milestone for the lads for whom the end is nearly in sight.

Vaughan, 28, of Langdown Lawn, Hythe, told the Daily Echo via e-mail: "The Hythe Ferry is unique. It's a monument against modern transport from an age where travelling was an experience to be enjoyed.

"You don't need to circumnavigate half the globe to appreciate the world. Just get out into the air, into the elements and look around at the beauty that surrounds Hythe.

"Britain is beautiful, and the Hythe Ferry is the perfect stage upon which to appreciate it."

The high ropes instructor added: "I would hate to return to the knowledge that Hythe has lost part of its soul.

"Lose the ferry and we lose the core of Hythe. It is a memory that sets home apart from anywhere else in the world."

The team are hoping to raise £30,000 for charities including Plan International and Oxfam.

Before they left, Ian, 36, a trained marine electrical engineer from Sowley, was thinking about getting into worm farming on his return.

Vaughan and Jonathan, a 28-year-old plumber from Hythe, were both planning to go back to their old jobs.

Spiralling business rates are threatening the future of the historic ferry service to Southampton after bosses revealed that they could not afford to pay the thousands of extra pounds that will eventually be required.

The route is already heavily subsidised by the taxpayer and could be axed as soon as next winter if a review of the rates next week does not lead to their bill being slashed.

For more information on the charity expedition, or to sponsor the boys, log on to the website www.southamerica5000.org.