A regional daily reporter has completed the challenge of a 139-mile bike ride as part of a charity fundraising bid.

David Blackmore from the Eastern Daily Press managed to cycle the distance – equivalent to the miles as the crow flies between his King’s Lynn office and the French port Calais – in nine hours on an exercise bike in the town centre.

The challenge was his final big drive to raise the £4,000 needed so he can take part in his second African project to revamp a school.

David aims join a group of volunteers helping to provide a facelift to a school in Namibia in June in an initiative run by the Bobby Moore Fund, after previously taking part in a similar scheme in South Africa last year.

David, right, is joined by KLFM presenter Simon Rowe for part of the challenge

For his challenge, his exercise bike was situated in the Vancouver Quarter, in King’s Lynn, and another bike was be placed next to David’s to allow members of the public to help reduce the amount of miles he needs to cover by 20pc.

David raised £260 with the challenge, taking his total so far to more than £3,700.

He said: “Thankfully, a small crowd had gathered to cheer me on for the final push and I really needed their support as I entered the last 5km.

“It was a great moment when I finished and threw my hands up in the air to light applause from the crowd.

“I started out the day not knowing how I would manage to cycle 50km let alone cover 223km so I was delighted to cross that finish line and ‘reach’ Calais.

“I was amazed at the response of the public who cheered me on, donated money and showed such an interest in the Bobby Moore Fund.”

To sponsor David, visit justgiving.com.