PEWSHAM'S David Bourne is following the famous pilgrimage route of St James from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Mr Bourne and his friends Peter Lambert from Malmesbury. and Geoff Richardson from Charlton, set off on their 500-mile cycle ride on May 16.

The three men, all widowers and all Roman Catholics, have been in training since last October and the pace had certainly stepped up in the last few weeks.

"It will be quite an adventure. The scenery is said to be spectacular and we expect to meet other people taking the same route.

"It will be an experience to remember," said Mr Bourne, 63.

They will be following the route taken by many millions of pilgrims through the centuries, over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain, to the shrine of St James in Santiago in the far north west.

All three men are raising money for a number of charities including the Catholic Society and the North Wiltshire branch of the Alzheimer's Society, of which Mr Bourne is the chairman.

"We are hoping to raise what we can. We have asked lots of friends and family to sponsor us, but we are also going out there for the experience," said Mr Bourne.