Fern Britton in Coven pub stop on marathon charity bike ride

The former This Morning presenter visited The Rainbow Inn yesterday for a bite to eat during a break from the challenge.

She is among a group of 24 cyclists who have so far completed 732 miles to raise money for Genesis Research Trust, which funds research into mother and baby health.

But it hasn't all been plain sailing and Challenge 57 – a nod to Fern's age – was almost abandoned when the cyclists ended up battling gale-force winds in the Lake District.

Members of the team were forced to wait behind huge metal cans to shield themselves from the extreme weather conditions and wait for rescue vehicles to arrive. A local man was thrown into the path of an oncoming car as they watched.

Fern said: "The wind was really blowing a gale. A man came up to us and said, 'I wouldn't be cycling out in this' just before he was blown into the road. Thankfully he wasn't hurt but it was a frightening moment."

The weight of Fern's hybrid bike meant that she was able to control it against the wind, but some of her teammates weren't as lucky.

"I have quite a heavy bike, so I was okay steering," she added. "But some of the other girls that have the streamlined lighter bikes were literally having to fight the wind to hold on to them so they wouldn't blow away.

The two-wheeled fundraisers have so far raised more than £100,000 for charity.

Fern suffered with a shoulder injury during the ride through Manchester, but it was quickly healed after a swift visit to an acupuncturist. Fern said she hopes more people will get involved in cycling, a sport she took up 11 years ago as part of her own well documented battles with weight issues.

She said: "I may be 57 but I'm fit. I think it's so important we help relieve the burden on the NHS." The group plans to reach Land's End on May 21.