ALMOST £3,000 has been raised by a group of cyclists who toured a route of up to 70 miles around Tynedale’s tea rooms.

The first Corbridge Depart, in aid of village charities Charlotte Straker and Corbridge Youth Initiative, saw 13 cyclists attempting the circular route.

Beginning and ending at ActivCycles on Watling Street, where bike shop and cafe owner Mark Nye fuelled the riders with tea, the route took in Matfen, Newburn, Wylam, Horsley and Prudhoe before moving on to Stockfield, Slaley, Hexham, Chollerford and Warden.

All of the participants, many of whom are members of the Northumberland Tearoom Explorers who meet regularly to cycle in and around Corbridge, completed at least 10 tearooms or 37 miles of the route. Many did 12 tearooms, one did 15 and event organiser Bob Eldridge did all 17.

“I was back-stop so I just kept going,” said Bob. “As the Northumberland Tea Room explorers, there’s a group of about 10 of us who meet up every Friday afternoon and do 25 to 30 miles between some of the tea rooms in the area.”

Bob joined retired village GP and chairman of trustees at Charlotte Straker, Bill Cunningham, to plan the route so that it divided easily into a morning and afternoon leg.

“The two charities are doing more and more fund-raising as one unit under the banner of Better Together,” said Bob. “I think local people are much more likely to support a good cause when they can see the impact in the village, and it’s people they know doing the fund-raising.”

Bill said: “We’re thrilled that about £2,900 has been raised so far. We worked out that the team of cyclists had done over 650 tea room miles between them. It’s a great achievement.”

The two charities have joined forces with Corbridge Cricket Club to host Funday on Sunday on August 30. The family day starts at 12.30pm with a knock out competition for the Corbridge Charity Shield between teams from Charlotte Straker, the youth initiative, the cricket club and a Corbridge village side. There will also be a barbecue, live music and children’s activities.