SOME 200 cyclists joined a 53-mile ride to celebrate the first king of a united England.

The Mayor of Wantage Steve Trinder was among the riders who joined this year's Wantage2Winchester on Sunday.

The ride links the birthplace of King Alfred the Great with his final resting place.

About 170 cyclists who had pre-registered for the event and another 25 who signed up on the day set off from Wantage Market Place at 10.30am on Sunday morning.

Mr Trinder said: "It was a wonderful day and I got a nice sun tan doing it.

"It's not an easy ride: you have to go up blowing stone hill, which is steep, and then again up Coombe Gibbet.

"It's really Winchester who drive it each year: they have a very strong affiliation with King Alfred and they're really keen for the link between us and them to be enhanced."

The annual event is organised by Winchester community project Hyde900.

Mr Trinder said he reached the city just before 3pm and was greeted by the current mayor Jane Rutter.

Wantage planning consultant Terry Gashe, 69, who also joined the ride, said: "It was very impressive - there were lots of people there.

"I wasn't as fit as I thought, on the way back I was feeling the pain, but it was a lovely day and we were very lucky with the weather."