A FORMER Weymouth serviceman is riding over 1,000 miles of the hardest cycle routes in Britain over 10 consecutive days to raise money for a soldier’s charity.

Peter Buckley, 49, of Preston, will take on the roads of The Wessex Way, The Scotland Way, The Coast-to-Coast and The Sarn Helen Trail for Afghan Heroes.

The charity was launched by a group of mothers who lost sons in Afghanistan and felt a specialist charity was needed to support families and servicemen.

Mr Buckley said: “I served as a captain in The Royal Tank Regiment for over 25 years and retired from the army in 2004.

“Because of this I feel a sense of extreme pride for our troops and wanted to do something to raise as much money as I could for this fantastic charity.

“I was amazed by the mothers who had lost their sons during the conflict and yet still gave their time to raise money for the troops fighting out in Afghanistan.

“Afghan Heroes deals specifically with members of the British forces and their families that have been affected by the military operations in Afghanistan now and into the future.

“I hope people give generously to me and anyone else raising money for this charity. If anyone has ridden just one of these cycle routes they’ll know how hard four is going to be.”

Mr Buckley will set off from Skye on August 26 on a 270-mile pedal to Montrose.

The Wessex Way will take him 250 miles, from Weston-super-Mare to Beachy Head, Eastbourne.

The 220 miles Coast-to-Coast route starts at St Bees and goes through Keswick, Shap, Richmond, Osmotherley and finishes at Robin Hood’s Bay.

The 270 miles tough Sarn Helen Trail involves riding over Snowdon and The Brecon Beacons, finishing in Swansea.

For details or to donate please visit www.afghanheroes.org.uk