CYCLIST David Lake was astounded in June of 1998 when police put the breaks on his fundraising in Wellington’s High Street.

Mr Lake, 47, of Gay Street, Wellington was stopped from selling raffle tickets to raise money to fund a ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats for Save the Children.

This was reported in the County Gazette on June 12, 1998. The cyclist had fallen foul of strict rules preventing fraud by unscrupulous collectors.

Mr Lake had raffled off 64 tickets at a £1 a ticket to members of the public hoping to win a collage of 52 Native American Indians.

He said: “I was getting a lot of interest from the public. However, a policeman stopped me and told me that I faced arrest unless I stopped.”

Speaking about the epic journey, Mr Lake said in 2018: “I can remember the ride. I did do training for it and cycled all over the Blackdown Hills.

“I was and still am a keen cyclist and enjoyed the journey which saw me camp out on the trip.

“I recall getting bitten by midges in Scotland and camping too close to a river.

“I managed to raise £1,021 for Save the Children but I think with a bit more publicity I could perhaps have raised more.

“I still help Save the Children as I give some of my wages to the charity.

“I really enjoyed the cycle and I would do it again twenty years after the original journey.”