A QUARTET of policemen will be swapping the streets of Hampshire for the open roads of the US when they attempt a gruelling 3,000-mile bike ride across the continent.

The foursome have taken up the challenge in a bid to raise cash for Fareham charity the Rainbow Centre, which helps children with cerebral palsy.

It is hoped £25,000 will be raised by the group, who are currently training in preparation for the marathon event.

Each of the four men is taking several weeks of unpaid leave from the force to complete the challenge from Portchester in Hampshire to the finishing line at Port Chester in New York.

They are even being vetted by university experts to make sure they are fit enough for the ride.

The team have worked out they will need to cycle 80 miles a day for six days a week if they are to complete the marathon in seven weeks.

Leading the two-wheeled expedition, Inspector Simon Wrigglesworth from Fareham said the team were looking forward to the challenge.

"They do such great work at the Rainbow Centre. We wanted to support them and raise as much as we could as they are in the process of moving to a different location in Fareham.

"We have already done a lot of preparation and training but what we really need is company sponsorship to make sure as much money as possible is given to the Rainbow Centre," he added.

Insp Wrigglesworth will be joined on the trip by colleagues Inspector Paul Rowsell from Gosport, Portchester beat officer Nick Morgan and PC Alan Hockley from Southsea.

Next week the team are being given the once-over by sport science students at Portsmouth University to see whether they will be fit enough to keep up with the 80-miles-a-day schedule.

If all goes to plan the team will leave the UK in September and will complete the challenge more than a month later in the state of New York.

Rainbow Centre co-founder Helen Somerset-How said: "As far as I am aware no one group has ever attempted to raise so much for us in one go. It is a fantastic effort."

If you are able to help sponsor the team please contact the Rainbow Centre on 01329 289500.