WIRRAL'S 15th charity Bikeathon in aid of leukaemia and lymphoma research takes place on Sunday.

Last year, 1514 people got on their bikes for the Globe-backed event in Arrowe Country Park, helping raise £66,000.

Among those taking part this year is the event's patron, Olympic gold medallist and BBC commentator, Chris Boardman MBE.

The Hoylake-born sportsman said: "The Wirral Bikeathon is a fantastic way for cyclists to enjoy the Wirral countryside at the same time as raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research's drive to beat blood cancers."

Chris - who took Britain's opening Gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and later won three stages of the Tour de France - continued: "We had a record year in 2013, with over 1500 participants helping us raise over £54,000 and we would like to do even better this year so that we can break through a big milestone in the Bikeathon story – raising over £3/4 million since it started."

Cyclists, aged eight and upwards, can take either the 15 mile or 28 mile route starting and ending in Arrowe Country Park. The event starts at 9.30am and you can register on the day.

There will also be entertaiment from The Peninsula Jazzmen and Dave Stubbs with his Fairground Organ.

The event was first held in 1999 and has gone on to raise £680,000 for the charity. It is organised entirely by a small group of local volunteers with help on the day from around 100 marshalls and supporters.

To sign up for this year's event visit www.facebook.com/wirralbikeathon