FOUR bike riders braved pouring rain, three punctures and carnival traffic to cycle 50 miles and visit 30 churches in one day.

The group from Radlett completed the sponsored bike ride on Saturday to raise funds for the restoration of historic churches in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The aim of the annual ride is to cycle to as many churches in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in a day.

Tom Zikas, Gordon Dootson, Ian Kelly and Irene Swain from St Antonys RC Church, in The Crosspath, Radlett, raised more than £3,000 by completing the task.

They were joined for part of their journey by Irene's two children and Lina Zikas, aged eight.

Along the way they faced several obstacles, including having to fight their way through a carnival in Hoddesdon.