DOZENS of mountain bikers braved the cold weather to take to the roads and bridleways around Staveley on the annual Santa Ride from the village's Eagle and Child Inn.

All the participants entered into the spirit of the night by donning Father Christmas outfits and decorating their bikes and helmets in tinsel as they ventured out into the dark. The ride took the intrepid cyclists around Borrans and Ing and over a popular biking section called "the big dipper."

The ride raised £800 for the Sam Houghton cancer research charity. The pub also hosts rides in the spring and summer and along with a donation box on the bar of the popular hostelry, more than £21,000 has been raised for the charity this year.