DONATIONS are still coming in following the 24 hour cycle challenge held by firefighters last weekend.

In some of the worst weather of recent months, a hardy bunch of cyclists tackled the 191 mile route linking all 24 of Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s fire stations.

Setting off from Trowbridge at noon on Saturday, the group headed to Westbury, Warminster, Mere, Tisbury, Wilton and Salisbury, arriving there late afternoon for a well deserved meal break.

The next stage proved to be the toughest – while the going wasn’t too bad into Amesbury and onto Ludgershall, the weather started to deteriorate rapidly as night started to draw in. After Pewsey came a much needed break at Marlborough, and several of the cyclists took the wise decision to sit out for the next legs to Ramsbury and on up towards Swindon.

With driving rain and strong winds already making the conditions hazardous, the few cyclists who continued also had to wend their way around tree debris in the road.

The longest leg was between Ramsbury and Stratton St Margaret, at just shy of 15 miles, and only two cyclists managed to complete it. At Stratton, the duty watch was on hand to provide welcome hot drinks and the encouragement to make it across to the next meal break.

More cyclists came back into the challenge from Stratton and made the relatively quick trip to Drove Road fire station, before making their way to Westlea for a hot meal.

In many ways, Westlea was a pivot point – it was over half way in terms of mileage, time and number of stations visited, and the route from there was heading back towards Trowbridge.

The weather was still dreadful, but a rousing welcome from the duty watch and several FRS managers, together with the meal break, proved a great boost. Next stop was Royal Wootton Bassett and then Cricklade, before another very challenging leg to Malmesbury – the road debris on this stretch was particularly bad.

As the challenge headed towards Chippenham, the sun started to rise and the extra light was a real bonus. Chippenham through to Calne was only tackled by a few – the long hill on the A4 being too much for most – and the tricky route over Blacklands saw just two cyclists taking on the challenge.

However, a reviving full English breakfast at the Training & Development Centre on the outskirts of Devizes gave impetus to those who had been resting, and over a dozen set off for the final few fire stations – Devizes, Melksham, Corsham and Bradford on Avon.

Despite the weather, and despite the delays, the team returned triumphant into Trowbridge shortly after midday on Sunday – challenge complete.

Organiser Andy Mumford said the whole experience had been amazing. “We had one guy, Ade Hurren, who cycled the whole route, which was phenomenal, but several others did pretty much all of it and most achieved in excess of 100 miles. The team spirit and determination at every stage was fantastic – the weather was truly appalling, yet the will to continue and succeed was there at every stage. We had a great support crew, especially the two motorcycle outriders who rode through the night and kept the cyclists safe, and everyone pulled together to see the challenge through.

“We’re hopeful of raising in excess of £2,000 but we won’t know for a while exactly how much we have as so many people are collecting sponsorship."

To make a donation log on to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/trowbridge5for50”