WHEN adventurous firefighter Anthony Lingard started cycling to work he had no idea just how far his new bike would take him.

Not content with his daily round trip to Bury fire station, the self-confessed thrill seeker has set off on a 1,100 mile bike ride to the Ukraine.

Mr Lingard, aged 25, of Schofield Street, Radcliffe, hopes to reach the former Soviet republic in 14 days.

He decided to make the trek in aid of The Firefighters Charity, which supports firefighters injured on duty.

The green watch member came up with the idea last July when he was awarded a bike on the government’s Cycle to Work scheme.

He said: “I have cycled everywhere ever since. For a long time I have wanted to raise some money for charity and do something interesting. This is the first time I have done anything like this though, so it is a bit of an experiment.

“The fire lads have been really supportive, but they just think it is typical of me because I am an adventurer and always going off on trips.”

Mr Lingard, who joined the fire service two years ago, set off on the first leg of his adventure on Monday.

He cycled to Hull, where he was due to catch a ferry to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, before riding across Germany and Poland to Lviv in the Ukraine. If all goes to plan, Mr Lingard will arrive in Lviv by Thursday, April 23.

The firefighter has been training for the trip since October and has been backed by Leisure Lakes in Bury, which has serviced his bike. To sponsor him, visit justgiving.com/Anthonylingard