A former Royal Engineer who is blind in one eye has completed a four day, 530km bike ride across the battlefields of World War One to raise money for Blind Veterans UK.

Ian Slack, 47, of Broad Road, Braintree, was medically discharged in 1997 after losing the sight in his right eye during a five-a-side football match.

The cycle ride went from the Menin Gate memorial at Ypres, to Arras Cemetery and then on to Paris via about 20 other memorials where riders laid wreaths.

Mr Slack said: “It was more emotional than I thought it would be.

“It was primarily about commemorating the people who have died or been injured during and since WWI."

See this week's Times for the full story.