A GROUP of friends cycled to raise money and to honour one of their mother-in-law's, who died at a hospice.

Andrew Gaffrey and his friends, Dominic Henry and Richard Gilpin all cycled 100 miles and climbed 4,700 feet in memory of Sandra Mason, Mr Gaffrey's mother-in-law, who died at East Lancashire Hospice.

The trio also raised £1,500 for the hospice through sponsorship, completing the gruelling challenge on September 28.

Forty-seven-year-old planning and production engineer, Mr Gaffrey set off on Friday at 8am and got back to Blackburn at 8pm.

He said: "It was my mother-in-law’s wish to go to East Lancashire Hospice for end-of-life care. She was well looked after and spent the final five days of her life there. I wanted to do something to thank the staff for their care and compassion.

"She had suffered from COPD for seven years and her health deteriorated over time, contracting numerous chest infections.

"We were very close and the ride was emotional.

"We finished at my favourite pub – the Three Bees Brewery in Darwen – to cheers from friends and family and three pints of beer waiting for us."