PEDAL power ensured thousands of pounds were raised for good causes, as cyclists of all ages took part in the Great Selby Bike Ride.

The annual charity ride, organised by Selby Lions, is now in its 17th year and is still as popular as ever.

Organiser David Jones said 686 people took part in the event yesterday, slightly down on last year's record turnout, but hopes were high that an impressive amount of cash would be raised for local and national charities.

David said: "It went very well and we were pleased with the turnout. The cyclists were set off at 10am by Phil Bodmer and Elly Fiorentini, of Radio York, and we were all cleared away by 3pm. We don't encourage people to race, but we had the first ones home after an hour and 50 minutes."

David said that he hoped all the cyclists who took part would have raised money for charity. The ride's official charities are the British Heart Foundation, Martin House Hospice, St Leonard's Hospice and the MS Society. More than £800 was raised by a four-man team from the Albion Vaults pub, in New Street, Selby. Eleven-year-old Hannah Roddie, who suffers from juvenile arthritis, raised more than £300 for arthritis charity ARC.

Grandmother Alice Roddie said: "She did it. She was very tired afterwards, but was extremely proud of herself."

About 180 cyclists opted to tackle the challenging 45-mile route rather than the standard 25-mile ride.

Updated: 15:18 Monday, May 12, 2003