A GRUELLING 100-mile cross country bike ride that took place in Marlborough at the weekend is expected to become an annual event.

The Ancient Hill Fort Challenge was organised by Wallingford Round Table in Oxfordshire.

More than 90 per cent of the route was on green roads like the Ridgeway, with much of it along overgrown bridleways.

Organiser Barry Tindall said that in places the cyclists had to fight their way through undergrowth.

He said: "One bridleway between Pewsey and Wootton Rivers was covered with tall nettles and most of us managed to fall into them."

Forty-eight cyclists signed up for the event that included an overnight stop at Marlborough on Saturday.

The marathon ride started at Wallingford Castle and took in a number of ancient hill forts including Uffington Castle, Liddington Castle, Barbury Castle, Avebury and Stonehenge.

Marlborough Mayor Bill Cavill and his wife Tricia met the riders on Sunday morning and waved them away at the start of the second leg.

Most of the riders managed to reach Old Sarum, although a few had to give up for time reasons, said Mr Tindall.

The organisers hope the event will raise about £5,000, which the Wallingford Round Table will distribute to a number of charities, including the special care baby unit at the John Radcliffe Infirmary at Oxford.