TEN firefighters from Maindee are now hundreds of miles into their 850 mile cycle ride to help our Sparkle Appeal.

The firefighters set off from Maindee Fire Station on Sunday to travel to Santander before starting their mammoth cycle ride.

They are set to cycle from Santander to Gibraltar before returning to Wales next Tuesday.

For the firefighters this will be the fifth cycle ride in eight years but the enthusiasm to keep raising money for local charities is still there.

This year 20 per cent of the money raised will go to our Sparkle Appeal with the rest going to the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

We launched the Sparkle Appeal last December with the aim of raising £250,000 to help build a £6 million centre for 1,200 disabled children in Newport, Torfaen and south Monmouthshire.

After months preparing for the cycle with training rides around Wales the real thing has arrived.

Daryl Treharne, one of the firefighters taking part, said as they set off: "It is going to be a lot of fun but a lot of hard work as well.

"Our shortest day is going to be a 90 mile bike ride," he added.