KINDHEARTED Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa residents are needed to get on their bikes for a good cause.

The annual bikeathon, which is run by the Bromsgrove and District branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund, starts at Mere Hall, Hanbury, on Sunday, September 9.

Branch chairman Nicole Harris said: "I would like to urge the public to come and join us on September 9 and discover some of the most beautiful Worcestershire countryside.

"This event is only a ride and the sooner you enter the sooner you will be able to start as only 25 cyclists will be sent at a time every five minutes until 12noon."

There will be water stops on the course and children must be accompanied. Volunteers are also needed on the day for marshalling stalls.

Entry is adults £4.50, juniors £4.50, family group of three or four members £14 and team/organisation £30.

Medals All entrants receive a T-shirt and all finishers get medals. Prizes will also be awarded to individual adults over 16, the individual junior under 16 and for the family and team who raise the most sponsorship.

Entry forms can be obtained from Speeds, Bromsgrove Sports, Phoenix Carpets, Scotts Cycles in Rubery and Brookside Fruits, in Worcester Road, Droitwich Spa.

Or residents can enter online by logging onto www.lrf.org.uk/northworcsbike Your can also write to Nicole at 71 Redditch Road, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove B60 4JP or call her on 01527 878493 or email nicnoelharris@aol.com The Bromsgrove and District branch was started in 1988 in order to raise awareness, in the local community, about the importance of leukaemia research and the work undertaken by the Leukaemia Research Fund Since its launch, the branch has raised over half a million pounds and has helped to provide vital resources and equipment to local hospitals.