MORE than 200 cyclists roared through the village streets of Islip on Sunday for the annual charity cycle from Westminster.

The village cycling community banded together to smash its £10,000 fundraising target for charity by tackling the 70-mile route, symbolising the link between the birth place of Edward the Confessor and the Abbey he founded.

The Big Bike Ride event was in aid of Friends of Dr South's School and St Nicholas Church, plus riders also raised money for their own chosen charities on the day.

Big Bike Ride organising committee member Peter Collins said: “This event was a fantastic celebration of the community spirit that Islip has and was a testament to the hard work of all the volunteers and sponsors involved.”

Big Bike Ride participant Viv Pearson added: " I just wanted to say what a brilliantly organised event the Big Bike Ride was.

"Marshals in just the right places, and helpful arrows everywhere, - it was amazing."

A number of teams such as staff from sponsors estate agents Breckon and Breckon and another team from Oxford Bus Company joined the hundreds taking on the impressive feat.

The main big bike ride took riders past sights such as Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Grand Union Canal through to the Chilterns and on the Thame and Islip.

There were also additional routes called the Nearly There ride, which ran 18 miles from Thame Market Square to Islip, and the children's Tykes and Trikes route - a short three-mile race in the village.

There was also a 'decorate your bike' competition.

More than £10,000 was raised for the school charity and church, plus lots more for individual charities chosen by riders such as Ronald McDonald House and The Unicorn School.