Spanish snakes and closed hotels no barrier for Bill

A 1,500-mile solo bicycle ride across Europe would be a challenge for anyone - but Bill Matthews of St Sampson's tackled it at 73.

The epic trek from St Malo to Gibraltar should have been 1,200 miles but Mr Matthews (pictured) estimates he did an additional 300 when his route planner led him astray. He averaged about 55 miles a day on the six-week journey and travelled along several inhospitable roads.

'The Andalusia mountains were terrible - I couldn't cycle up them. And there were dead snakes all over the roads in Spain which made me think I didn't want to be caught out there at night.'

Mr Matthews did no sport at all until he reached 50, when he started taking skiing holidays once a year. He took up cycling when he retired from his job at the power station to fulfil his dream of riding from Land's End to John O'Groats.

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