The cycling efforts of eight Hampshire businessmen have raised £7,000 for charity.

All members of the Property Pedallers' Cycling Club, they completed the three-day 560-mile Chartreuse Challenge, taking them from Le Havre to Chartreuse in the French Alps.

The riders were: David Simpson and Allan Hilder, from architects, Simpson Hilder Associates, of Lyndhurst; Simon Martel and Patrick Warwick-Smith, of commercial agents, Warwick Martel, of Winchester; Greg Park, of Park Steel, Twyford; Steve Skinner, of Edward Symmons, Nursling; Neil Middleton, who lives at Lockerly and works for Defence Estates; and Hedge End joiner, Mike Gustar.

They completed 185 miles on the first day, stopping over in Montargis, 165 miles the second day, staying overnight at Beaune, and finally 210 miles to Chartreuse, just north of Grenoble, on the third day.

The riders' main sponsor was Computer-Quote and other generous donations came from colleagues, friends and relatives.

The money they raised is to be distributed between charities, including the Alzheimer's Society, Childline, Jubilee Sailing Trust, Leukaemia Busters, National Asthma Campaign, Wessex Heartbeat, British Epilepsy Society and Cancer Research UK.