NEARLY 1,500 cyclists - easily a new record for the event - took part in the 10th Anniversary Wirral Leukaemia Research Bikeathon on Sunday.

Now organisers are waiting to see if their hopes of marking this special milestone by taking the total amount of money raised in 10 years to a magical £500,000 can be realised.

"Early indications are that we might fall short of that objective," said Bikeathon spokesman Ernie McCauley. "But a total of £50,000 was pledged in sponsorship on Sunday, so we will wait and see - but the turn-out was magnificent and more than 100 cyclists entered at the last minute!"

As can be seen by the pictures on this page, cyclists of all ages took part in blazing sunshine. They were sent on their way by the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Adrian Jones.

"It was a beautiful day and, apart from some minor mishaps involving some riders coming off their machines, everything went without a hitch, as far as we are aware," said Ernie.

To-date, the Wirral Bikeathon has raised £415,000 for Leukaemia Research.

Money raised supports the Leukaemia researchers at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the local haematology ward at Arrowe Park Hospital.

The Bikeathon - the biggest annual cycling occasion of its kind on Wirral - has set new records in each of the last nine years, including 12 months ago when an astonishing £59,000 was raised.

Bikeathon organiser Gillian Creek was delighted with the success of the event which, she stressed, was not a race but a fun day out for all.

The event started and ended in Arrowe Country Park, Upton. The 26-mile route followed a figure of eight course around Wirral with two sections each of about 13 miles. Cyclists elected to ride one or both sections. A commemorative medal awaited each cyclist that finished.