Two councillors put themselves through their paces on a 54 mile bike ride to raise more than £500 for a Braintree community centre.

Andrew Hensman, who represents Braintree Central and Beckers Green, and Ron Ramage, councillor for Braintree West, pedalled from London to Brighton on June 21 in aid of the Archer Community Centre.

They endured steep climbs and aching muscles but completed the course in around seven hours, with a few tea breaks on the way.

The pair are trustees of the Archer Community Centre charity which runs the centre in East Street.

They will consult groups that use the hall on how best to spend the pot of cash.

Mr Ramage said: "It was a really long way but it was well worth it.

"We are trying to get people to use the centre and want to plough money into it so it can get even better."