THE family of a Fareham cyclist who died before a major race in France has raised enough money to install a memorial bench at a beauty spot he loved.

More than £600 has been collected from friends, family and colleagues of Bob Redrup, 55, who died from a heart attack in September while warming up for the Duo Normand time trial in Marigny.

Now his widow Stephanie of Longfield Avenue, Fareham, plans to buy a bench to install at Tyneham in Dorset where the family enjoyed holidays together.

Stephanie said: "It's a lovely place.

"People go there with the right attitude, they go there for a bit of piece and solitude and time to get away from it all.

"It is a place he loved.

"I would just like to say I am grateful to everybody who donated towards it.

"We had donations from family, his cycling friends and his teaching colleagues as well."

Permission for the bench has already been granted by the Army who own the land around the Dorset village.

Stephanie added: "They were very good. They said we could as long as we are responsible for taking care of it."

The family had hoped to have it in place in time for father-of-three Mr Redrup's birthday on November 14 but now think that is unlikely.

Stephanie added: "I just don't think we will have enough time to do it.

"I haven't ordered the bench yet.

"But it would be nice if we could have it ready for then."

Mr Redrup was a former teacher at Wyvern Technology College, Eastleigh.