PAUL Cockeram cycles off at the end of his term of office as mayor of the city of Newport.

He launched a 24-hour charity bike ride at the Velodrome in the International Sports Village to raise money for his mayoral appeal in aid of Sparkle - the fund set up to build a treatment centre for disabled children - Crossroads and a Parkinson's disease charity.

Fifty cyclists are taking part in shifts. The ride will end at the start of an exciting open track meeting tonight where three record-breaking attempts will take place and Ron Webb, designer of the Velodrome, will receive a lifetime achievement award for his services to cycling.