A group of Wiltshire police officers and their friends are taking part in a 24-hour charity drive in honour of a colleague who died of cancer last year.

The group will be competing in the Dawn to Dusk 24-hour Enduro event for Cancer Research UK at the end of this month, to pay tribute to PC Bill Brown who was based at the road traffic policing unit at Chippenham. He died in October.

The 52-year-old, lived in Warminster with his wife Sue and their children Andrew and Kyrah.Their first child, Robert, also died of cancer, aged eight.

One of the traffic officers taking on the challenge, PC Pete Williamson, said: “Bill was an avid fan of motorcycles and was only ever a call away from those who needed a chat, a cup of tea or a helping hand whether it was for mechanical knowledge, plumbing, electrical work, building, carpentry or just about anything. He was the oracle of all things and a great mate. we all miss him.

“While Bill didn’t like off-road motorcycling, we feel that he would see the funny side of us rattling around the course for 24 hours..

“Some people have already sponsored us and we really appreciate this support. If anyone else would like to make a donation we would be very grateful.”

The group of eight will be entering two teams in the event in Wales on August 29.

Those taking part are PCs Williamson, Scott Hill, Jeffrey Rice and Robert Eccleston, and Jonathan Fairbairn, Jason Ingram, Neil Sansum, Ellis Williamson and Lee Poolman.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the teams should visit www.justgiv ing.com/blackratsoffroad Another of PC Brown’s colleagues, PC George Rabczak, who works for the Roads Policing Unit in Amesbury, raised £800 for Salisbury Hospice and CLIC Sargent when he had his legs waxed earlier in the year.

PC Brown served with the Royal Artillery before moving to Warminster in 1991.