A TEAM of cyclists from one of the county's biggest businesses has helped the firm reach its £1.5million fundraising target for the charity it has supported for more than a decade.

The 18 MandM Direct employees cycled through 300 miles of French and English countryside, on a route that encompassed historical landmarks and WW1 battlefields from London to the Champs-Élysées in Paris. In total the team’s ride, spearheaded by MandM Direct Chairman, Mike Tomkins, and COO Damian Evans raised more than £50,000 from charitable donations of friends, family, suppliers and followers on their social media channels.

Mr Tomkins said: "I am delighted to announce that after a successful charity team bike ride from London to Paris we have now surpassed £1.5 million in donations to Teenage Cancer Trust. Our commitment to this fantastic national charity will continue to help them maintain and build more units across the country. Our staff at MandM Direct should feel extremely proud of this achievement.”

Kate Collins, director of fundraising and marketing from Teenage Cancer Trust, said it had been an amazing 12 years of support from MandM Direct.

"Our supporters make our work possible and on behalf of all the young people who have benefited from your support so far and for those who will benefit in the future, a heartfelt thank you to everyone at MandM Direct: we are all looking forward to working with you to change lives for many years to come,” she said.

This year, MandM Direct, renowned for delivering shoppers their favourite brands at permanently low prices, celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Chief Operating Officer, Damian Evans added: "Reaching 30 years is a great achievement for us, and it’s exciting that whilst we appreciate our own achievements we can also celebrate the amazing amount of money that our employees, suppliers, friends and families have raised together for such a brilliant charity as Teenage Cancer Trust.”