HUNDREDS of people saddled up for a charity bike ride from Upton last Saturday.

Uptonogood, billed as “a celebration of mountain biking for all ages and abilities”, took them along a route that was almost entirely off road on The Ridgeway and parts of the North Wessex Downs.

It started and finished in Upton and cyclists were welcomed back with a barbecue, beer tent, bouncy castle and a vintage bicycle display.

About 450 cyclists tackled rides of five, 12, 25 or 45 miles.

Alison Orr, 45, from Didcot, said: “The wet weather certainly made it more challenging. We were covered from head to toe in mud.”

An organiser, Bob Lott, said: “Blewbury school managed to raise about £1,000 on the barbecue and we raised about £4,000 for Upton village play area, so that was great. Next year we hope it will be even bigger and better."