HUNDREDS of cyclists - including some pedalling more than a hundred miles - saddled up to raise vital charity cash.

The event in aid of Action Medical Research attracted 540 entrants who all began their journeys at Colchester United's JobServe Community Stadium - some as early as 7am on Sunday.

Each cyclist chose between a distance of 39, 68 or 102 miles with the routes taking in Langham, Sudbury, Great Bardfield, Braintree and Halstead.

The national charity funds research into diseases which affect children and has been funding medical breakthroughs since 1952.

Previously they have helped introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developed the use of ultrasound in pregnancies and helped test the rubella inoculation.

Current research includes areas such as premature birth, epilepsy, asthma, scarlet fever, cerebral palsy and brain cancer.

Five-year-old youngster Aiden Mitchell, from Witham, has received help from the charity in the past after being born with cerebral palsy.

He helped hand over medals to the cyclists who completed the course.

Community fundraiser for Action Medical Research in the east Tracy Stratford said: “We are absolutely delighted with how the event went.

"The sun was shining and the riders came back happy, but tired.

"It was so heart-warming hearing stories from those who had achieved a personal goal, whether the 39 miles was their longest ever ride to date, they’d overcome injuries to complete 68 miles, or they’d tackled the 102 mile champion course and were proud to have completed their first ever 100 mile sportive.

"We saw some great team spirit with cyclists supporting those they’d never met before or waiting a few hundred yards up the road to cross the finish line with their team mates."

The event was sponsored by MonkeySource, a web and app agency based in Colchester and five of their team joined in the ride.

Tracy added: "The event could not have happened without our volunteers - the fantastic ladies making teas and coffees at the rest stops, those on registration early in the morning, the marshals from Essex 4x4 all over the course and those cheering the cyclists over the finish line.

"A big thank you from us all at Action.

"We hope to raise £25,000 for the charity through this one event which will fund even more vital research to help poorly children and babies.”