FOR most people taking on a gruelling 969 mile cycle ride from Land’s Ends to John O’Groats is something they wouldn’t ordinarily contemplate.

But spare a thought for Andrew Hockedy who completed the challenge despite having three operations - two knee replacements and a double hip replacement - all in the last 18 months.

Andrew, aged 55, took on the nine-day ride in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, raising an impressive £5,200 in the process.

It was the second time the father-of-two had faced the near 1,000 mile challenge with his latest trek including a 126 mile stretch in one day as they closed in on the finish in Scotland.

Andrew said: “I did the ride for the first time when I was 50 and I’ve had a number of operations since then but it hasn’t put me off getting out on the bike and going for a cycle.

“When you’re on the bike your mind is completely focused and you go into cruise control. We were averaging 6,500 feet of climbing each day so it’s certainly no easy feat but it was all for a great cause and giving up wasn’t an option.

“People won’t believe me but the toughest part was having to rough it in a tent.”

Andrew, managing director of Redditch Volkswagen, said there are no plans to hang up the bike helmet just yet and already has his eyes set on the next challenge.

He explained: “I’d like to do Land’s End to John O’Groats again when I’m 60 so that’s something I’ll be definitely considering.

“But before that I’d like to try the Paris-Brest-Paris bike race, it’s a 1,200km ride and thought to be one of the oldest in the world and happens every four years, so that’s something I’m aiming to do when it runs again in 2019.

“One thing for sure is I’m not planning on giving up my bike.”