HUNDREDS of riders, young and old, climbed onto their bikes, and took to the Thames Cycle Path for this year’s sponsored cycle ride for the local hospice.

This year’s event was the 15th annual ride organised by Greenwich and Bexley Cottage Hospice.

Riders had a choice of a 12 or 24-mile cycle route and three different start and finish venues, at Morrisons supermarket in Erith, Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich and at Woolwich Arsenal.

Riders included company teams, family groups and individuals, all of them looking forward to a cycle along the banks of the Thames.

Bexley’s mayor, Councillor Bernard Clewes, was at Erith to see off the riders who started from there.

There was also a mobile workshop available to check bikes beforehand and help out with any mechanical problems en route.

The event attracted 812 riders compared to 750 last year, and the hospice hopes to have raised about £40,000 to help with its running costs.