THREE York men are setting off on a toilet inspired coast to coast bike ride raising cash for an international charity.

Look North presenter Phil Bodmer, youth worker Simon Jones and university professor Tim Kelly are taking on the 140-mile coast to coast ride today, with Simon in a loo themed jersey with a toilet seat petition attached his bike.

The sanitation theme ties in with the trio's chosen charity - Toilet Twinning - which works by twinning toilets with latrines in Asia and Africa, helping people get access to safe and sanitary places to go to the loo.

Simon said: "The lack of sanitation worldwide is absolutely horrific and it’s wrong that we live in a world where so many children don’t have somewhere safe and clean to go to the loo.

"I'm 34 and I've never trained for a physical exercise challenge in my life. That's also not on. Doing the cycle ride with sanitation in mind will spur me on."

For each £60 the raise the men will award a certificate with a photo of the twinned latrine and its GPS coordinates to beneficiary toilets of their choosing.

To sponsor the men go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/jonessimon or uk.virginmoneygiving.com/timpkelly.