Civil engineer cyclist aims for 860-mile ride without sleep

A civil engineer is set to complete an epic cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats without sleep in a bid to raise money for charity.

Dave Pickles, 24, set out at midday on Saturday to take advantage of prevailing winds and had already made it through Exeter, Bristol, Worcester, Stafford, Warrington, Preston and Kendal by yesterday evening, according to the London Evening Standard.

He hoped to complete the ride in under 60 hours and will only stop to eat. He was due to arrive in John O'Groats in the early hours of this morning.

The feat will raise money for the poorest children in India and Nepal.

"I can't tell you the amount of people that have called me a nutter," Pickles said.