Over two dozen saddle-sore cyclists have raised over £60,000 for Norwood from a 400km bike ride in Israel starting and finishing in Jerusalem and taking in the Judean hills, the Negev highlands and the Dead Sea.

Participants included John Naar, 64, an electrical engineer from Coombe Hill, who continues to go on Norwood rides despite triple bypass surgery 11 years ago.

He said this year’s cycle had been special as he had been joined by his 17-year-old son Max, “who was only eight months old when I completed the very first Norwood challenge”.

Another father-and-son team were first-timer Aaron Searle, 16, a sixth-former at Manchester Grammar School, and his barrister dad Barrie, taking part in his fifth international bike ride.

“We had an absolute ball,” reported Mr Searle, 56. “The riding was good and you couldn’t have asked for more beautiful scenery. Aaron also interacted very well with the residents from Ravenswood [the charity’s community in Berkshire for adults with learning difficulties] who rode with us. He now definitely wants to do the Norwood challenge in Kenya next year.”