YORK adventurer Cat Dixon is back on target to smash the world record in cycling around the world on a tandem after managing to get one of the last ferries out of France under that country's new coronavirus lockdown.

Cat, 53, and her friend Raz Mardsen, faced a race against time to make it the the ferry port in Caen, northern France, amid tough new curfew restrictions in France.

They arrived in Portsmouth this morning and are expecting to cross the finishing line in Oxford before 5pm today - which they hope to live stream via their Facebook page @TandemWow.

So far, they cycled more than 18,000 miles across five continents and raised at least £23,500 for Motor Neurone Disease – the MND Association – and Oxfam.

Here is an account of their desperate dash to get back to the UK, taken from their Facebook blog:

Day 263 Angers to Portsmouth - Tuesday March 17, 2020

"We heard last night that France is imposing some of the strictest measures to deal with the virus. This included a travel ban from 12pm today. We are also aware that cycling is banned in Spain and Italy - therefore reluctantly we decided to take public transport to near the ferry so we can get back to the UK ASAP.

We are allowed to take public transport. We have cycled over 18,000 miles and as such we hope Guinness understand that we couldn’t continue cycling in France because of the travel ban and other restrictions.

It didn’t go smoothly. For the first time the alarm didn’t go off! Then the breakfast we had ordered didn’t arrive.

We raced to the station got in an elevator (which is tricky with a tandem) that only went up rather than down . Finally we found the platform and managed to squeeze Alice onto the train next to a sign saying no tandems!

We had to change at Le Mans - the train had been cancelled. The French don’t know the meaning of brevity when it comes to conversation - so we waited patiently knowing that the bus was leaving shortly but we had no idea from where.

A lovely and helpful French man (there had to be one ) took us to the bus and we crammed Alice into the luggage space under the bus - it was very undignified.

We arrived in Caen - put Alice back together and rode to the ferry where fortunately we were able to squeeze a place this evening.

We just received a text confirming that there won’t be any food on board - so we’ll have to make do with a few left over bananas.

Tomorrow we’ll ride from Portsmouth to Oxford - the last day of our epic around the world journey. The route is on FB.

We will live stream crossing the line so for those who can’t make it - you’ll be able to see us finish. If you are around - the finish line is outside Beeline Cycles, Cowley Road, Oxford - we should be there around 5pm.

Thanks for everyone’s support - it’s been amazing and has helped keep us going.

We will have a celebration when the virus concerns come to an end and we hope to see you there."