A BUSINESSMAN has cycled 330 miles and raised £2,000 for Warrington Youth Zone (WYZ).

Mark Jones, 50, of Assured Wealth in Centre Park, presented a cheque to WYZ to help fund their base opening in 2020.

The new WYZ building will be a high-quality facility open young people across the borough between the ages of eight to 19, and up to 25 for those with disabilities or learning difficulties.

The zone will open on Dallam Street and provide somewhere for young people to go and be inspired to carry out various activities.

Mark undertook the 330-mile cycling challenge starting in Salzburg and he arrived in Vienna four days later.

This is the third overseas ride for Mark after he rode from Vietnam to Cambodia in 2014 and organised and rode from London to Paris in 2017, raising more than £55,000 for five children’s charities alongside 26 other cyclists.

Commenting on the challenge, Mark said: "The youth zone means so much to children I had to get involved.

"Keeping my mind and body active is great and I get to help this amazing team of people who help so many families."

Dave McNicholl, CEO of Warrington Youth Zone said: "Thank you to Mark for all of the amazing support that he has given through not only the Salzburg to Vienna ride but also when he organised a London to Paris bike ride to support four charities in 2017.

"As well as raising much needed funds, Mark is also a role model to our members with healthy living as a core focus of our work with children and young people."

Yesterday, Tuesday, 24 cyclists set out from the furthest north Onside Youth Zone in Carlisle in the first Tour de Youth Zone challenge, and will finish later this week in Croydon.

They will be passing through Warrington, taking a stop at the new youth zone site on Dallam Lane, tomorrow at about 8am.

As a mark of solidarity young people and staff from each youth zone have been ‘virtually’ cycling the route on static bikes.