THREE energetic lads built up a sweat at The Harlequin shopping centre in Watford on Saturday, November 10, when they attempted to cycle for nine hours non-stop.

Giuseppe Alletto aged 32, Robert Catlin, 31, and Steven Phillips, 18, got on their exercise bikes at 9am with the aim of pedalling away until 6pm.

By 12.30pm they had already raised more than £300, which will help fund a charity bike ride in Egypt in aid of Mencap.

Mr Alletto said: "The response has been fantastic. But my bum is hurting. We are going to be exhausted by the end of the day."

The trio need to raise a further £3,500 to take part in a cycle along the Nile next February.

November 10, 2001 16:30