A charity bike ride in Beccles has raised £4,200 for both local and international causes.

Rotary Club of Beccles is celebrating the fundraising success of the Beccles Cycle for Life 2024 event, which took place in May.

Half of the raised money will go to East Anglian Air Ambulance, while the remaining will support the Rotary club's charitable trust.

The rider who raised the most money, £500 in total, was a newcomer to cycling, Robert Basford, from Carshalton in Surrey but who has local connections.

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He won Lord Somerleyton’s prize of an entry voucher for a family of four to Somerleyton Hall's gardens.

Mr Basford and his wife Sue attended the presentation at the hall, carried out by Simon Gaches, head of gardens, and Tony Rainbird, president elect of Beccles Rotary Club.

Lord Somerleyton has supported this annual event for a long time, often donating a prize and even participating in the bike ride himself.

Mr Basford said the experience of riding on country roads in the south of Beccles left him so inspired that he joined a local cycling club and now rides regularly.

The next Beccles Cycle for Life is set for Sunday, May 11.

The event will offer reduced entry fees with an early bird scheme for online registrations made before this year ends.

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Sponsors Norfolk & Suffolk Chartered Financial Planners will again ensure children can participate for free.

Emily Matthews, community fundraising lead in Suffolk for East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “Rotary Club of Beccles have raised a grand total of £53,189.50 for us over the years, excluding what you have made this year, which I find incredible.

“Your continued support truly makes a huge difference to our charity and I cannot thank you enough.”

Beccles Rotary thanked all riders and contributors for supporting the annual event since its inception in 2002.