A TEENAGER from Hurn completed his enduring 240-mile charity cycle ride from Bournemouth Pier to Land’s End over three days on Monday.

Charlie Wharton, who has finished his studies at Parkfield School, left the shores of Bournemouth Beach on Friday morning for his first major cycling challenge, after purchasing his own bike.

“It was just an amazing experience,” he said.

“On Friday, the weather was not on my side. It was chucking it down which was not fun at all. But Saturday and Sunday were so good.

“Saturday’s cycle was flatter which meant I could take it easy and use it to rest and recover, and Sunday was just amazing. On the final day, I was wearing a shirt that said Land’s End on the back and cars driving past me were beeping their horns in support which was really nice and kept me going.”

After having a bit of a tumble on his first day and only suffering three punctures on the road, Charlie described the feeling when he finally reached Land’s End, Britain’s most south-westerly point, greeted by members of his family.

“It was an odd feeling really. Once I got to Land’s End, it didn’t feel like I had finished it. I said to my mum when I finished ‘what do I do next?”

Through his fundraising page for Cancer Research and cash donations, the 16-year-old has raised nearly £800, far exceeding his target of £500. Since recovering from the cycle ride, Charlie already has his eyes set on his next challenge.

Charlie said: “It’s been pretty amazing; I didn’t think I would get that much. I thought I would get to £500 and then it would stop but its just kept on going.

“I’m looking out for a new bike as I want to do to do something else. The bike I used was a beginner’s bike and it was falling apart by the time I was finishing.

“It would be good to do an event with a group of cyclists; I just need to find the right challenge.”