Fire crews start marathon ride

Colleagues have been fundraising for many months

Firefighters from Leicester have embarked on a long-distance charity cycle ride to help to family of a dead colleague.

They are raising money for the family of Bob Miller, who was killed last October fighting a factory fire.

Nine cyclists, and their back-up team set off at 0500 BST on Wednesday from Eastern Fire Station - where Mr Miller served for 26 years.

Between them, team members will cover 2,600 kilometres stopping in Holland - at Leicester's twin city of Krefeld - at St Malo in France, and in Jersey.

Fond memories

They will be cycling in groups of three almost continuously for the next seven days.

Firefighter John Greasley admitted it would be a gruelling challenge, but thought Mr Miller would have approved of.

He said: "He would have enjoyed it. Every time we did a challenge before Bob was one of the main helpers.

"He would be the one keeping us smiling, keeping us going. If he was here now he would be the one laughing in the background.

"He always enjoyed doing this sort of thing and that is one of the main reasons we are doing it."

All the money raised from the challenge will go to the Bob Miller memorial fund which was set up to raise money for Bob's widow and sons.