DRIVING instructors swapped their cars for bicycles in a charity challenge.

Benson School of Motoring, in Braintree, hosted a charity bike ride for Cancer Research UK.

The ten-mile route went from Notley Golf Club through the Notleys to Great Leighs before heading back.

The team, made up of 14 instructors, managed to raise £566 for the charity.

Driving school boss John Benson said it was a great success.

He said: “This is something we do every year.

“We had lovely weather on the day and then we also had a barbecue and beers afterwards at Notley Golf Club.

“It was a great day and it did what it needed to do, which was raise money for the cancer charity – it’s a really good cause.”

A few novices stepped up to the challenge especially to raise money for the charity.

Despite never riding a bike before they embraced the challenge.

John added: “There were three ladies doing it for the first time.

“They have had bikes before but they had never used them.

“They really enjoyed it.”

The money raised will go towards pioneering research to find a cure for cancer.