A man from near Thetford took on an emotional London to Paris cycle ride to raise money for the hospice which cared for his wife.

Malcolm Quantrill, from Mundford, was joined by son Shaun and friends Colin Rands and Stewart Double for the 300-mile journey in memory of his wife Yvonne.

Yvonne, who was 60, died in March last year following a battle with cancer and was supported by Bury St Edmunds-based St Nicholas Hospice Care prior to her death.

Malcolm and his supporters have been fundraising for the charity since then and the London to Paris ride in September raised £8,793 for the hospice.

The latest challenge means the fundraising total raised in Yvonne’s memory now stands at £13,057.

Malcolm said: “With this ride we wanted to once again raise some funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care whose staff were excellent in their care for Yvonne in her last days after a four year battle against firstly bowel cancer and then liver cancer.

“We also wanted to raise funds because of their genuine concern for myself and my family at this time and also over the last year.”

The team of four began they journey from London to the French capital on what would have been Malcolm’s wedding anniversary on Wednesday, September 13.

The four-day ride took them through some picturesque villages and beautiful French countryside, and the final leg from Beauvais to Paris saw them stop for lunch by the River Seine.

The London to Paris ride followed a 150-mile cycle which Malcolm and Colin took from Mundford to Timperley in Manchester.

The route relived a childhood journey Malcolm made 50 years earlier in 1966 when, aged 12, he travelled to visit family in Manchester with his parents in their black Ford Popular car.

As well as their cycling efforts, supporters have also hosted a number of other fundraising events, including quizzes, cake sales, and a football match.

Malcolm said: “The team would like to say a huge thank you to Mundford Cricket Club and Mundford Bowls Club, who have allowed us to use their venue for our various events, everyone who has donated raffle prizes and also Double Quick who sponsored our cycling kit.”

St Nicholas Hospice Care events fundraiser Charlie De-Moore said: “A huge thank you to everyone who supported Malcolm, Colin, Shaun and Stewart.

“Completing a 300 mile cycle ride certainly isn’t an easy challenge and we are so grateful for the passion they have all shown for raising funds for the hospice.”