CHARITY cyclists from UK construction firm Kier gathered at the Severn Bridge to start the South Wales stage of a 500-mile ‘green’ challenge.

The riders, who linked with others from Gwent’s St David’s Hospice Care, accepted the baton from English colleague cyclists at the Welsh border to begin the Gwent section of the challenge.

The Gwent cyclists were continuing a 500-mile challenge which saw participants only using green, non-motorised means of travel. The challenge linked Kier construction projects throughout Wales and the South West of England.

Kier has offices in Newport and at St Mellons.

The Gwent sites visited during the day included Usk Prison, Pontypool Canal Basin, St Anne's Hospice and St David’s Hospice, in Malpas, Newport and finally Kier’s offices at Cathedral Chambers, Stow Hill, Newport.

Keen cyclist and Kier cycle challenge group member Kris Broome, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “It was a brilliant ride and a lot of fun cycling through the glorious Gwent countryside over a quite challenging course of about 33 miles and all to a strict time schedule.”

Kier managing director Peter Young said: "We have really enjoyed taking on this 500-mile challenge – I've been thrilled by how enthusiastic our staff have been about getting involved. We have had a fantastic response so far and I am confident that we will reach our £10,000 target."

Emma Saysell, chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care, who welcomed the cyclists to St David’s day hospice, in Malpas, said: “Kier really went the extra mile in the fantastic challenges that they set themselves. We are thrilled and extremely grateful that the money raised as a result of the efforts of Keir and its employees here in South Wales will be donated to St David’s Hospice Care where it is so badly needed to help us to continue to carry on the work that we do 24 hours a day 365 days a year in our community.”

The Kier 500-mile challenge continued to Cardiff and up into the South Wales Valleys before heading west to Neath and Swansea then back through Porthcawl, paddle boarding across Swansea Bay before finally ending up at Cardiff Pointe where, among the ‘green’ activies on offer, was ice skating, white water rafting, swimming, walking and roller blading.