A CYCLING champion from York has set a new coast-to-coast record on a charity cycle ride.

York's former international racing cyclist and county champion, 35-year-old Phil Brighton, rode the 96 miles from Carnforth, in Lancshire, to Saltburn, in Cleveland, - in a record four hours 15 minutes, beating the old record of five hours 42 minutes.

He said he was still counting up the cash raised for Macmillan Cancer Relief, but it was definitely a four-figure sum.

Mr Brighton, from Wigginton, set off from Carnforth at 10.25am on Tuesday.

His journey took him through Ingleton, Hawes, Leyburn, Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley, Guisborough and finally finished at Saltburn.

He said he was helped along by a brisk south-westerly wind on an overcast, but warm day, saying conditions were ideal.

By the halfway point, at Leyburn, Phil said he was almost 50 minutes up on his estimated time, and continued to build on this all the way to Saltburn, where he posted a time of four hours 15 minutes 32 seconds. His average speed was 22.55mph.

Mr Brighton said: "I could not believe I was as quick as that. The south-westerly wind certainly made a very big difference and my time would have been much slower without it as it seemed to push me all the way.

"The best part is that I have raised a lot of money for Macmillan's Cancer Relief, as many people have sponsored me for this venture. I would like to thank all my sponsors, The Cycle Shop, in Haxby, York, who supplied all my energy food and drinks and my wife who handed me my bottles along the ride. I do hope somebody else will have a go at the record for charity and I would be happy to give any advice."

In July 2004, the Evening Press reported that Mr Brighton had decided to put the brakes on his illustrious racing career after being dragged down by months of health problems.

The then 33-year-old family man had been battling exhausting sinus problems and cold-like viruses almost constantly for the past few months. But he finally made the decision to end 20 years of high-level competitive racing after a race in Peterborough.

Meanwhile, the general manager of York's Marriot Hotel, Craig Ewan, raised £2,000 for Cancer Research UK after completing a gruelling four day 295-day cycle ride setting out from the London Eye and ending at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

He said: "I wanted to support Cancer Research UK through this challenge as it is a worthy cause and I know a number of people whose lives have been affected by the disease."

Jill Hatley, of from York Friends of Cancer Research UK who accepted Craig's cheque on behalf of the charity, said: "The people of York are very generous in their support of the work of Cancer Research UK. I would like to thank them and especially Craig for all their hard work."

Updated: 10:03 Saturday, August 27, 2005