TWO Hampshire men are taking on a gruelling physical challenge to raise money for a national charity.

The pair are cycling for four days from London to Paris in a bid to support the Royal British Legion.

Ben Bell, 30, and Tom Forbes, 26, were on the starting line yesterday for the charity’s Pedal to Paris event and are cycling on average 110km a day until they reach the Arc de Triomphe.

Inspired to join the race, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the First World War, Ben, a staff agency manager from Eastleigh, and Tom, a sales representative from Winchester, are hoping to raise more than £3,000.

They decided to help the Royal British Legion because of the support they gave Ben’s grandfather after he served in the Second World War and wanted to start his own business.

Ben said: “We wanted to set ourselves a challenge with the criteria of raising money for charity and doing more exercise, but really we strongly believe in this charity and want to help.

“Tom and I also have friends who have served and we’ve seen the difficulties these men and women face after serving and on return from places like Afghanistan, the aftermath can be a real difficulty. It’s times like this that the charity comes into its own.”

To donate, visit the website just-giving.com/benandtompedaltoparis.