THEY have braved busy dual carriageways, winding coastal roads and sheer drops.

But it is the Great British weather, mechanical problems and plagues of tiny insects which have threatened to take the wheels off their epic charity motorcycle ride.

Lifelong Hampshire friends Wayne Boyes and Darren Lake are on the homecoming leg of their 3,000mile journey circumnavigating British coast on lightweight classic motorcycles.

The 45-year-old pair, along with Wayne's 17-year-old stepson, have ridden the length of the country passing iconic landmarks from Lands End to John O'Groats and Brighton Pier to Blackpool Tower.

Tomorrow the trio will come full circle arriving back in Totton where they will receive a hero's welcome after two weeks on the road battling heavy rain and high winds.

Now they are inviting people to join them for a homecoming bash held at AFC Totton's ground to boost their fundraising for two cancer charities.

The three riders set off from the Testwood Stadium on Friday, August 14, heading towards Brighton on three 80cc Yamaha DT bikes specially reconstructed in Germany for the trip.

The classic machines - a throwback to the pair's teenage years - have a top speed of just 45mph making their anticlockwise journey covering up to 250miles a day slow-going.

Friends James Lamport and Derek Smith have been following them in a support van.

Matthew had a narrow escape on the east coast when a toll barrier crashed down on him when he was riding through the Tyne tunnel near Newcastle.

The youngster was then forced to ride in the team's support van for five days when his bike broke down near Glasgow last Friday and the engine was later replaced.

The three DT Amigos , who have mostly stayed in campsites along the way, aim to raise £3,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and Oesophageal Patients Association charities.

Wayne's father Derek has prostate cancer and Darren, who now lives in Paderborn, Germany, lost his uncle Roy to oesophageal cancer.

Speaking from Bude in Cornwall, Wayne, a floor fitter who lives in the Salisbury Road area, said: "We've had lots of ups and downs but it has been great fun.

"There's been a lot of rain and you get saddle sore from riding on them so many hours a day.

"The sea views in Scotland near John O'Groats where breathtaking but the big thing there was getting attacked by midges.

"The Great British weather was the downside but we've had good days and bad days.

"But we are doing this for charity and we hope people can join us when we get back to raise as much as we can."

The bash features stalls and live music from band The Stand plus a raffle featuring family tickets for the Sammy Millers Motorcycle Museum in New Milton.

Tickets cost £5 and £3 for children aged five-16 going.

Contact 07900 044 593 for more information.