Their legs hurt, they were too tired to think but the Fat Boys proved they cycle and have over £1,000 to prove it.

Ashley Tremble, 52, and Ian Lyttleton, 49, both of Maryport, set themselves a challenge to cycle 300 miles for charity during the month of September.

Under the heading Fat Boys Can Cycle, the two men, who work together at Sellafield, found the challenge tough at times- but both were determined to finish.

Ashley, of Ennerdale Road, said both his father and uncle had died of cancer. So, while the last time he was on a bike was when he was 14, he was determined to complete the challenge for Cancer Research UK.

Ian, 49, of Mosedale Terrace, was raising money for MacMillan, who have helped his son Nathat, 29, who suffers with Graft Versus Host disease as a result of an allergy to a bone marrow transplant.

Nathan, who lives in Cockermouth, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2014 and was left with the debilitating disease which causes fatigue, muscle weakness, pain and other systems which has virtually left him an invalid.

The men both found some nights harder than others.

“We would come in after 12 hours shift and then go on a 12-mile bike ride,” Ashley said.

The longest ride was26.3 miles. It took 40 minutes to get there and 90 minutes to get back, riding into a headwind.

“When we got to Allonby I suggested taking a bus the rest of the way,” Ian said.

The men are already considering a second challenge next year but, in the meantime, they are thanking Stuart Cooper , Aroma Coffee Shop and all the work colleagues, friends and family and everyone else who has supported them.