CYCLISTS will ride from the city to the site of a famous battlefield in Belgium in time for the unveiling of an upgraded war memorial.

Riders will be sponsored, with monies raised going to The Royal British Legion, a charity which supports members and veterans of the British Armed Forces.

Around 30 cyclists will leave Gheluvelt Park next October to cycle over 300 miles to the battle site of Gheluvelt in Belgium, taking around five days to complete the trip.

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On arrival, they will to see the modified statue, with the Worcestershire Ambassadors having pledged £7,500 for the upgrade to add to money given by the regimental association.

In 1914, the German army was on the cusp of securing the English channel, the gateway to Great Britain but they were engaged in a fierce fight by the Worcestershire Regiment in a village in Belgium, which thwarted this advancement.

A spokesman for the Worcestershire Ambassadors, who are behind the initiative, said: “ We visited the battlefield near Ypres, Belgium in the Summer and the current statue just didn’t seem fitting enough and we thought there’s something we can do about it.”

Mark Jackson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment, formed in 1970 through the amalgamation of the Worcestershire Regiment and the Sherwood Foresters, said: “I’ve been to the battlefield many times and there’s no signage to the memorial.

“Thirty one soldiers died in 1914 and many more from wounds afterwards.

“It was a big turning point in the war.

“It’s brilliant that the statue is also getting improved.”

Anyone wanting to join the cycle ride can register their interest with Tracey Hopkins from the Worcestershire Ambassadors on:membership@worcestershireambassadors.com.