FOUR Hampshire police officers riding across America to raise £25,000 in aid of Fareham's Rainbow Centre are due to complete their 4,000-mile trek ahead of schedule.

Cycling beat bobby for Portchester PC Nick Morgan, Fareham Inspector Simon Wrigglesworth, inspector at Gosport Paul Rowsell, and PC Alan Hockley, cycling beat officer for Milton in Portsmouth, have spent a few days in Washington and are now in Maryland nearing the end of their epic journey.

PC Morgan contacted the Daily Echo from Christiansberg in Virginia with an update on their progress.

He said: "We have cycled up, up, up and up again through the Blue Ridge Mountains before having some great rides down winding roads for two or three miles.

"We appear to be well on track and potentially could arrive a couple of days early - which is good as it means we will make it and no punctures or accidents are going to cause any last minute hitches."

They have moved over to the east and are following the coast up to the New York area.

The team left Portchester Castle at the beginning of September for their trek across plains, deserts and mountains towards Port Chester, near New York.

They were due to arrive there on Sunday, October 24.

On their return to Hampshire, they will present a cheque to the Rainbow Centre, which helps children with cerebral palsy.

Insp Wrigglesworth is writing an online diary about the trip.

To follow their progress visit www.rainbowride.org.uk