IT may have been a biting five degrees and snowing, but that did not stop a group of cyclists from taking part in a 31-mile bike ride through south west Hertfordshire in February.

Thirty riders from Royal Mail, along with The Peace Hospice chief executive, Anna Anderson, and corporate development manager, Maggie Grand, took part in the event, which started at Royal Mail's Ascot Road sorting office.

The route took the postal workers through their catchment area.

They started off cycling through Watford to Rickmansworth, using the Ebury cycle track to the Rickmansworth delivery office.

They then rode through Croxley Green to the Kings Langley delivery office, onto Radlett and Borehamwood.

The managers of both the Borehamwood and Rickmansworth sorting offices opened up the premises to enable riders to have a well-earned break and a few words of encouragement before they set off on the next leg of the journey.

Both Anna and Maggie completed the ride in just over five hours.

Maggie Grand said: "Special thanks go to Mick Corley and John Lodge, who organised the ride, along with their colleagues from Royal Mail at Ascot Road."

The event is part of Royal Mail's adoption scheme of hospices for the next two years.

The full amount has not yet been collected, but it is hoped the event will raise £2,000 for The Peace Hospice.