A CHARITABLE nine-year-old has cycled the entire length of the Outer Hebrides after two years of pleading with his parents.

Windermere lad Diesel-Lee McClure battled wind and rain on his journey of more than 100 miles - at one point riding with an unfixable flat tyre.

The St Mary Primary School, Windermere, pupil raised £1,180 for the North West Air Ambulance after persuading his mum and dad he was finally old enough to take on the challenge.

Jane McClure, Diesel-Lee's mum, said: "I was amazed by him. He wanted to do it two years ago as we go on holiday there but he was too young."

And not only was the expedition the brainchild of young Diesel-Lee, he picked the charity he wanted to raise cash for as well.

"It was his choice," added Jane, who rode alongside him with her husband Matt, managing director of Windermere's McClure's. "He always watches the air ambulance programmes on telly and thinks they are amazing and said: 'They don't get enough money' so he wanted to help."

Speaking of the ride, Jane said there were a 'few tears' in the beginning but spirits soon lifted.

"The first day we got the ferry from Skye to Harris and cycled for 25 miles through a lot of rain and wind - even I wanted to cry!" she added. "The next day we got the ferry from Harris to North Uist and did 30 miles.

"And the third day we did 42 miles to South Uist and got the ferry to Barra."

On the fourth and final day of the trip the family travelled back up north via coach but had to cycle the last leg of 11 miles - with Diesel-Lee tackling the route with a flat tyre.

Having covered a distance of 115 miles, Jane added: "Diesel-Lee was ecstatic at the end - he really enjoyed it."