A 22-YEAR-old has completed a gruelling 3,100-mile trip around the historic counties of England in memory of his schoolfriend.

Mark Williams returned home to Craswell in Herefordshire, having raised more than £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust's Laurie Engel Fund.

He had set off from Hay-on-Wye 31 days earlier and travelled through England's 39 historic counties facing flash floods, unseasonal cold, punctures, London traffic and a broken saddle.

He was welcomed home by friends with a glass of champagne - his first drink since January - and by his mum, Melanie, who was wielding a shaver to get rid of his straggly beard.

Mark said: "It was a character-builder at times but it was a fantastic experience.

"The countryside was beautiful and people have been immensely kind and helpful."

He completed the challenge for his schoolfriend Laurie Engel, who died aged 13 after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer.

Laurie's fund has now reached £1.25m since it was set up by Laurie's parents, Matthew and Hilary, after he died 11 years ago.

The aim is to improve conditions for cancer patients at Birmingham Children's Hospital and is now helping completion of a new building expected to open in 2018.

Mark was at school with Laurie at Michaelchurch Primary and Fairfield High.

Other ex-Fairfield friends gathered at Hereford Cathedral on Monday to accompany him over the last 18 miles.

Matthew said: "Hundreds of people have done dozens of events for us over the past 11 years but Mark's achievement just leaves me awestruck.

"In some ways it was harder than the Tour de France. He rode further, did nearly all of it alone and, unlike the professionals, had no rest days. We are so touched that he did this for Laurie."

Mark was inspired by Matthew's book about the counties, Engel's England, which was published two years ago and visited many of the places described in the book.

Mark said: "I really did love Yorkshire, even though I had to tackle the steepest hills I've ever seen.

"But there's nowhere to beat Herefordshire, is there?"

Mark, who has an engineering degree from Portsmouth University, is now hoping to train as a maths teacher.

Except that, undaunted, he is already talking about another challenge. "Even crazier," he promised.

To add to his sponsorship fund go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Cycling-Engels-England.