As charity cycle rides go, it has certainly raised the bar.

Because two intrepid riders from Whitstable have just pedalled from Land’s End to Whitstable in under 24 hours - on a 70-year-old tandem.

Luke Huggins and Nick Green arrived back in the town to be met by family and friends at the end of an epic journey which they described as the hardest mental and physical challenge of their lives.

Even Luke, 34, - an ex-professional cycle racer - confessed he had never had a tougher ride in his career.

The exhausted pair completed the 357-mile trek, only with very brief stops, in a time of 23 hours and 40 minutes.

Luke, of Borstal Hill, said: “Never again. It was the toughest ride I have ever had. The hills through Cornwall and Devon went on forever and as we cycled past Stonehenge through the night, it was foggy and the temperature dropped below freezing.”

Builder Nick, 44, of Molehill Road, Chestfield, said: “I play quite a lot of sport and have done quite a few charity challenges.

"Never again. It was the toughest ride I have ever had" - Luke Huggins

"I wanted to do something that would push me but even though we trained for eight months, nothing can prepare you for it.

“Riding the tandem meant we had to spend all our time on the saddle, which was very hard. We nearly crumpled on Detling Hill but managed to keep going. I don’t think I’ll be getting back on a bike for quite a while.”

The pair were supported on the route by a back-up van driven by Richard Latham and Chris Lloyd.

Richard said: “They really put themselves through the pain barrier and deserve a medal. What they did was immense.”

They hope their efforts will raise up to £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support UK. Donations can be made via www.justgiving/357.com