Memorial ride for tragic cyclists

The crash happened on an icy road in January

A 75-year-old former Olympic cyclist will join a charity ride to raise money for the families of four cyclists killed in a crash in January.

Organisers hope Brian Robinson will be accompanied by 200 other riders on the 90-mile route in West Yorkshire.

The four members of Rhyl Cycling Club died when a car skidded on ice and crashed into the group of 12 cyclists on the A457 near Abergele.

Several members of the club will take part in the memorial ride on 6 May.

Maurice Broadbent, 61, from Rhuddlan, Dave Horrocks, 55, from Llanerch, Wayne Wilkes, 42, of Rhyl and Thomas Harland, 14, from Prestatyn, were killed in the crash on 8 January.

The ride is being co-ordinated by the John Cotton bedding factory at Mirfield, which regularly arranges cycle events to raise money for charity.

Organiser Sue Bodell said the tragedy had deeply affected everyone at the factory.

She said: "It was very upsetting and we thought this would be an appropriate way to remember those who died and raise some money for their families.

Fourteen-year-old Thomas Harland was one of the cyclists killed

"We want as many people as possible to take part. There'll be a £20 entry fee and we're hoping to raise more money through sponsorship."

The ride will start at the factory and end in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Mr Robinson - a one-time Tour de France stage winner in the late 1950s - was approached to join the event because he lives close to the Mirfield plant.

Mrs Bodell said a cut crystal bowl would be engraved with the names of the four dead cyclists.

She told the BBC that the factory was hoping to present it to Rhyl Cycling Club chairman Alan Broadbent - the son of former chairman Maurice Broadbent, who was killed in the crash.

Mrs Bodell added: "It was such a shock to all riders. We just want them to know we are there for them and we are going to raise as much money as possible."