SHOPPERS in Hereford have been cycling the distance to Afghanistan to help Britain’s wounded soldiers.

Visitors to B&Q got on their exercise bikes last Friday to raise funds for Help For Heroes, with the event expected to finish on Sunday.

Fund-raisers Gemma Dadey and Pete West hope to raise £3,000 by getting shoppers to cycle 3,567 miles, the equivalent of Hereford to Kandahar, on two bikes provided by Hereford Leisure Centre.

Shoppers making a donation can still use the bikes at the front of B&Q during the store’s 7am to 9pm opening hours.

“Customers’ reactions have been great, with many getting on and having a go,” said Gemma.

Army cadets have supported the event, along with serving military personnel and police.

Meanwhile, Scottish tenor John Innes and soprano Rebecca Newman performed in High Town to raise money for the forces’ charity. The choice of songs ranged from Puccini to Lloyd Webber to Westlife – with all being poignant reminders of the military fighting in war zones.

n A Leominster-based independent financial adviser has raised more than £700 for Help for Heroes.

Robert Magee and Associates held a reception for clients to celebrate their relocation to the town’s Enterprise Park, raising £720.

Robert Magee, the firm’s founder, said: “It was a cracking evening and it was nice to have something to celebrate even though these are difficult times for so many businesses.”