VICTIM SUPPORT county boss Steve Twynham took the long way round when he set off from Scarborough to meet the top judge at York Crown Court.

Instead of heading down the A64 in a speedy car, the 50-year-old chief executive got on his bicycle and headed for Skipton through Northallerton and Richmond.

Then he headed east again through Harrogate to arrive on time for his appointment with the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman.

It marked the end of his five-day 190-mile trip to raise funds for Victim Support's national Sunrise Appeal.

"I have really enjoyed it," said Mr Twynham, after his marathon journey up hill and down dale in the summer heat. "I would do it again. I think it has raised awareness of what we do (victim support)."

Mr Twynham, who heads North Yorkshire's Victim Support, thought of the fund-raising idea while on one of his then-normal four or five mile cycle rides for pleasure several months ago.

It took four months of training to prepare him for the sponsored bicycle marathon and 40 bottles of spa water to keep him hydrated during the five-day journey, which stopped at all of North Yorkshire's Victim Support offices.

The worst part of the journey was climbing over Buckden Pike between Wensleydale and Wharfedale. He had to stop at the top while newly-laid tarmac dried, and he enjoyed anextended lunch break. "I was never so glad to see roadworks," he said.

Updated: 10:54 Tuesday, June 28, 2005