SCORES of Southampton fundraisers got on their bikes to raise vital cash for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

Members of the Southampton branch of the fund staged a three-hour bikeathon on the city's famous common.

People turning up were invited to complete as many circuits of the one-and-a-half-mile course as they could manage.

A similar event in the city last year was sponsored by the children's TV show Blue Peter and raised about £8,000.

Organisers are hoping that this year's bikeathon will also raise thousands of pounds in the battle against leukaemia, which strikes about 24,500 people a year.

Branch chairman Linda Farrand said: "There's a lot of funding going into Southampton.

"Last year a cheque for £3.4m was handed over to Southampton General Hospital for research being carried out in Southampton and Salisbury.

"An award of £52,000 has just been made to Dr Feargal McNicholl in Southampton to carry out pioneering new research into lymphoma, myeloma and leukaemia."

Former Saints star Matt Le Tissier helped promote the bikeathon.

His old club donated two prizes - a signed football and a place on its summer soccer school - and the Sammy Saint mascot mingled with the crowds.

Jonathan the Jester and the Southampton Youth Training Brass Band also helped entertain the spectators.