Cyclists start a chain reaction

A mountain biking husband and wife team joined an Archbishop and other pedal-powered priests for an epic fundraising ride.

Mark and Veronica Swinnerton, who run Swinnerton Cycle Centre on Cannock Chase, took a pit stop in Stafford on the first leg of a 250-mile ride.

The Swinnertons, Archbishop Vincent Nichols and fellow supporters of the Father Hudson Society are riding through the Midlands along towpaths, bridleways and all sorts of challenging terrain over the next few days.

The ride has been organised to raise money for the society, which is the social welfare agency of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

On the way, the riders are stopping off at landmarks, sites and projects connected either with Father Hudson himself or with the work of the Birmingham-based Father Hudson Society.

After setting off from Alton Castle yesterday, the cyclists stopped off at St Austin's Church on Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, where they were treated to some much-needed lunch by parishioners.

They then headed off across Cannock Chase before spending the night as guests of the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hednesford.

Today, the cyclists were hoping to see some early-morning deer on the Chase before travelling down country lanes to Wolverhampton for lunch at Hope Family Project in Heath Town, which is one of the Father Hudson Society's collaborative community projects.

Stafford's new Starbucks store has also named Father Hudson's Society as its chosen charity and donated almost £1,000 to the group so far.

The Greengate Street coffee house selected the society as a staff member has first-hand experience of the adoption service it provides.