RESIDENTS are being encouraged to get their on their bikes and sign up to the Mayor of Darlington’s charity bike rides.

The rides, which both take place on Sunday, June 15, will see the return of the popular Border Bike Ride, a challenging 40 mile ride around the edge of the borough of Darlington, and a family ride around South Park.

All entrants will be asked to raise as much money as possible for the Mayor’s chosen charities; the Butterwick Hospice and the Phoenix Recovery Centre at Catterick.

Launching the rides, the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Gerald Lee, said: “This will be the first major fundraising event of my mayoral year and I urge everyone to get involved, get on their bike, have fun and take part or at least sponsor one of the entrants.

“The rides will showcase the things I am passionate about, cycling and the countryside.

“I would like to thank the sponsors and the team at the council who have helped to make this event possible.”

The Border Bike Ride will set off between 8.30am and 9.30am from the Bedford Street entrance of South Park.

The cyclists will follow a route that will take in many of the outlying villages of Darlington including Neasham, Redworth, Killerby, and Merrybent, before finishing in the Market Square.

Entry for both the rides is £5 per adult, with forms available from the Dolphin Centre and darlington.gov.uk/mayorscharitybikerides.