PEDAL power was the order of the day as fundraising cyclists got in gear and raised an estimated £60,000 for Basingstoke's hospice.

Riders of all ages turned up in force at Basingstoke's War Memorial Park on Sunday to take part in the ninth "Big Wheel" event in aid of St Michael's Hospice.

More than 1,000 riders took part, with the early birds waved off at the start by Basingstoke and Deane Mayor Cllr Gerry Traynor and Gazette Newspapers mascot BG.

The adults had the choice of two, brand-new looping routes -either 25 or 50 miles - while the youngsters tackled a 6.5-mile route closer to home. One participant even took part on a penny farthing.

Event manager and hospice fundraiser Melanie Blackman said she was delighted with how the event - one of the biggest in the Basingstoke calendar - had turned out.

She said: "It's been absolutely phenomenal. We're hoping it will be our highest turnout ever, which was set two years ago.

"Even if we don't, it's still been a fantastic event. The conditions were perfect - bright sunshine but with a breeze to cool the cyclists down.

"I want to thank everybody who took part, both the cyclists and the volunteers. The event has become an institution. We've had people come from as far afield as Cumbria and London."

This year's event commemorated a "Celebration of Cycling".

Milestones, the living history museum, exhibited a display of bicycles through the ages. Another attraction was world record holder Jez Avery, who presented his mountain bike stunt show. Basingstoke firemen were also on hand to cool people down.

- A display of pictures from Big Wheel 9 will be on show in The Gazette's Church Street office, where you can order any of the pictures taken at the event.