A student from Olveston cycled for 24 hours straight to raise money for the homeless.

Harry Smale, 20, completed the endurance challenge in a bid to raise money for housing charity Shelter.

Using a turbo trainer he covered a staggering 470 miles - roughly the distance from Bristol to Bordeaux as the crow flies.

His efforts have so far raised more than £1,500.

Harry said: "I wanted to help support homeless people. I believe they are struggling even more than usual because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The pandemic has meant that the homeless support charities are receiving less funds and less food in to their food banks.

"The ride was by far the hardest thing I have ever done as I had the battle both mentally and physically to keep going and not give up.

"I was supported by my family who stayed up late in to the night and got up very early in the morning to keep me fueled with plenty of food. I also had my friends and further family sending me messages of motivation throughout to keep me going."

No stranger to endurance events, Harry completed the three-day Tour of Wessex last year. However, he had never ridden for more than eight hours at a time before.

"I had plenty of confidence as I felt very fit in the weeks leading in to it," said Harry.

"I had done some research in to other people who had done 24-hour rides and other endurance events on a bicycle and how they coped with it.

"I was back on the bike within two days of completing the event. Although my legs have definitely not recovered quite yet.

"I slept for something like 18 hours and was then was limping around the house very slowly."

Harry, a mechanical engineering student at Coventry University, is back living in Olveston for the time being as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

After exams were moved online he was able to complete his second year work shortly before his cycling challenge.

To donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/24hride4shelter