Beijing cyclists set to come home

Their pair came across many obstacles during the 21-country trip

A Berkshire couple who undertook a sponsored cycle trip to China and back are due to return on Thursday.

Richard Mason, 35, and Kat Wilkinson, 28, will have cycled 8,600 miles (13,840km) in 21 countries since setting out for Beijing last June.

The pair have raised £6,000 for Cancer Research, in memory of Ms Wilkinson's mother who died three years ago.

The couple, who started the trip after being made redundant, are to end it in their home town of Reading.

They reached Beijing in March, after setting out from Reading's Forbury Gardens nine months earlier.

Since then the couple, from Caversham, have been making the return journey by bicycle, aeroplane and, finally, a ferry across the Channel.

On their return, they will be greeted by Reading West MP Martin Salter and their family and friends.