MOTORCYCLE enthusiasts will be riding round the country for a good cause as organisers pray for good weather.

The Ride the County charity event tomorrow (Saturday, May 16) raises funds for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and will now see participants take in all three counties the service covers – Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

An appeal is being issued for new participants to get the total up to 200 this year.

Since last year's inaugural ride, creator Paul Long, from Didcot, has worked around the clock to ensure this year's event is twice as successful.

Logistics manager Mr Long, 51, who organises the ride with wife Angie, 45, a teaching assistant, said: "I sometimes wonder what my day job is."

Ride the County invites bikers from across the UK to ride around any – or all – of the three counties. They can choose their own route between a series of checkpoints.

Mr Long added: "It's not a race or a rally, it's a leisurely route. We've put three suggested routes up but people can start from any checkpoint; there's no obligation to stop at every place."

This year the ride ends at Carterton Football Club, where from 5pm there will be a hog roast, live music from rock group The Dirty Earth Band, camping and a disco until late.

Tickets for the evening's events cost £5, or £2.50 for riders, and are available from Carterton Football Club at cartertonfc.com

To get involved with the ride or for more information, visit ridethecounty.org.uk