A team of work colleagues from Worthy Down, near Winchester, turned their passion for motorcycling into a fund-raising challenge when they hit the roads of Britain.

Biking enthusiasts, Phil Bradbury, Nige Smith, Kenny Caraher and David Forster, who work at Unicom Service Management, the military administrative centre, took their machines for a nine-day spin following the coastline.

Their challenge raised more than £5,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund and Riders for Health, the charity which supports the development of motorised transport in Africa.

A gruelling 3,200 mile route saw them average more than 300 miles each day and took the four to Lowestoft, Suffolk, John 0'Groats at the northern tip of Scotland and Land's End in Cornwall.

Their journey was broken by regular breaks and lunches at Little Chef, which helped the challenge by providing meal vouchers.

They were also supported by the Territorial Army, which provided a bed for each rider at its centres at the end of each leg.

"It was a fantastic experience and all for good causes," said Nige Smith (39). "When you got on the bike each morning it was OK, but as the day went on you got a sore backside quicker and quicker. You just wished the next Little Chef would come along!"

The ride was backed by a number of corporate sponsors, including IT specialists, Marval, which gave £1,000. Other sponsors were Micheldever Tyres, Taylor's Coaches and the Coach and Horses at Sutton Scotney.