HOUNDS of the Heythrop Hunt joined their masters for a different sort of ride over the weekend.

The group held a 120-mile cycle tour to raise money for the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

And the dogs joined them on Sunday, as they covered some 30 miles.

Hunt member Sophie Gannon, of Hook Norton, said the group had aimed to raise £1,000, but it had so far received pledges totalling £2,585.

The 35-year-old said: “In the countryside we rely on the emergency services, who help us when we have problems, and we wanted to give something back to them.

“We set up a JustGiving page to get sponsorship and so far we have had a really good responses.”

The ride set off at 8am on Saturday from the Greedy Goose pub, in North Aston, and finished on Monday in Chipping Norton.

Lizzie Coombes, 20, said: “It was a great weekend and crossing the finish line was quite emotional. The pain and the rain was worth it.”

For more information or to donate, visit justgiving.com/teams/ tourdeheythrop

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