A PAIR of friends have raised a bumper sum for a children's hospice.

Zech Newton, 10, and his 14 year old friend Jamie Williams raised £1,703 to Hope House Children's Hospices after completing a 55 mile bicycle ride from Oswestry to Rhayader.

Zech, of Oswestry, and Jamie, from Weston Rhyn, were accompanied by family members on the trip, which started BikeWorks in Beatrice Street.

Zech and Jamie, who enjoy cycling in the Rhayader area, decided to ride the distance after joking telling Mr Newton they would soon not need a lift home as they would ride back.

The trip included a visit to Hope House Children's Hospice in Morda and will also pass through Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Llandinam, Llanidloes and Llangurig.

The boys were also accompanied by Jamie's uncle Lee Williams, Zech's grandfather Richard Newton along with family friends Andrew Pollock and Stuart Kynaston.

Support was provided in a car by Jacqui and Craig Rushton, parents of Mr Williams' wife Lisa, and Jamie's father Dean Williams.

Richard Newton said that the boys owed a "deep debt of gratitude" to everyone who supported the ride.