A MONMOUTHSHIRE cyclist has become the youngest ever person to complete a 209mile ride from sunrise to sunset.

The Chase the Sun ride, held on solstice the year’s longest day, started on the the Isle-of-Sheppey, Minster ,and ended on the seafront at Burnham-on-Sea near Bristol. The riders go via south London, passing Richmond Park, bridging the Thames, touching part of Wiggin's Olympic gold time trial route, plus cross-country highlights, Bramley pub, the Mendip Hills and Cheddar Gorge along the way.

Tom Creswell was one of five cyclists from bike club, the Monmouthshire Wheelers, who took part.

He said: “We started at sunrise at 4.40am. All five of us stayed together.

“We had three 15 minute breaks and one half hour break. It was hard - the last 50 miles were the hardest.”

The 18-year-old, from Blenheim Drive, Magor, completed the 209 miles in just under 14 hours.

He said: “Around 100 people took part. We decided to do it in January of this year. Before this the furthest I’d raced was 100miles. I’ve been training since January just trying to get the miles in on the hills and the flats.”

Mr Creswell studied at Nash college but has now started an apprenticeship with Western Power Distribution as an electrical engineer.

At 18, he was the youngest person to have taken part and completed the ride. Mr Creswell had only been cycling a year and had started at the Monmouthshire bike club in September of last year.

He said: “I’d like to do it again, but wouldn’t want to do it on my own. The support van played a huge part in the entire day for us, which had food, drinks, spare parts and spare bikes.”