A DEVOTED widower if aiming to cycle 700 miles around Northumberland in memory of his wife.

Graham Taylor, of Hexham, lost his wife of 39 years, Elaine, to metastatic lung cancer last year.

He had planned to cycle 700 miles across Europe but, when that was knocked on its head due to the outbreak of coronavirus, he decided to turn his attention closer to home.

Between July 13 and August 7, Graham plans to cycle 600 miles before completing the challenge with 100 miles on August 8.

He is aiming to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Care for the care it provided Elaine.

Mr Taylor said: "Elaine was a very popular, warm and generous person who put her family and others first. She was well known and well loved by the wider community and everyone responded so generously last year."