A TRANENT cyclist helped raise just under £250,000 for this year’s Children in Need after joining the Tour de Pudsey challenge.

David Allan and 19 workmates cycled more than 300 miles in three-and-a-half days to raise money for the charity.

The group, who all work for Lloyds Banking Group at its Edinburgh base, were joined en route by cycling legend Mark Beaumont and met up with teams from Cardiff and London branches as they took on the journey from Edinburgh to the town of Pudsey in West Yorkshire

David, a relationship director at New Uberior House in Edinburgh, said: “I am very proud to be part of the Tour de Pudsey challenge with my fellow Lloyds Banking Group colleagues.

“I’ve been a keen cyclist for the last few years now but, even so, the thought of some of the hills we would be climbing en route to Pudsey was quite intimidating.

“I focused on the impact that our fundraising would have on BBC Children in Need to help motivate our team to complete the challenge together.”

The riders were welcomed in Pudsey by TV presenter Gethin Jones, who had cheered Team Cardiff on their way at the start of the challenge.

Gethin said: “It was fantastic to see the Lloyds Banking Group colleagues from across the country complete their Tour de Pudsey challenge for BBC Children in Need.

“I love to see people pushing themselves to achieve sporting success – especially when they are also raising money for such a great cause in the process. Huge congratulations to everyone involved.”

Tour de Pudsey is one of Lloyds Banking Group’s signature challenges for its Charity of the Year partnership with BBC Children in Need. The funds raised will help to ensure that children and young people in the UK can have a safe, happy and secure childhood and have the opportunity to reach their potential.

Over the three-and-a-half days, all of the team had collectively cycled 18,000 miles, burned over 38,880,000 calories and raised £246,696.11.

Philip Grant, chairman of Lloyds Banking Group’s Scottish executive committee, said: “Tour de Pudsey is the biggest signature challenge we have ever tackled for charity.”