A TEAM of cyclists are bidding to raise the funds it takes to operate the air ambulance for 24 hours – by cycling around the county in the same period of time.

CIM Services, based in Nursling, is bidding to raise £9,000 for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance by cycling across the border of Hampshire this weekend.

Starting on Saturday at 10am, they will leave their base – opposite the air ambulance site, and head towards the boundaries as it meets Wiltshire and Dorset among others.

The IT consultancy company will see six staff members take part, with an estimated finishing time of 10am on Sunday.

So far, they have raised more than £4,000.

Roger Hunt, operations manager, said though those taking part had experience in cycling, they were apprehensive over the entire journey length.

The 41-year-old, of Totton, said: "We're all a little apprehensive over the journey, but we're going to do the best we can.

"Everyone has a charity close to their heart, but we are right opposite the air ambulance, and most importantly we feel it's a cause that is slightly undervalued.

"As cyclists you hope you never need their help, but they're on your mind."

Roger, who will be joined by colleagues from Saturday morning, said the fundraising total, while "ambitious" was to reflect the cost of running the air ambulance for 24 hours.

He said: "We're cycling for 24 hours and so that's why we've gone for that total. We will be making a number of stops at the ambulance base in Andover, and at Beaulieu as Lady Montagu is a patron of the charity.

"We are all looking forward to it, but I'm sure it's going to be tough. We have done the route in parts, so it will be familiar, but we haven't done all of it at once."

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cim-services-challenge-2018.