INSPIRED by a black and white photograph from 1974, three North Devon teenagers have cycled more than 900 miles on a bicycle made for three.

Will Bathurst, 19, from Westward Ho! followed in his father Nick's footsteps by riding from John O'Groats to Land's End on a tridem.

TRIDEM CHALLENGE: Will Bathurst, Sian Funning and Scott Branch on their 900 mile trek.
INSPIRATION: Richard Kateley, Westward Ho!'s Nick Bathurst and Colin Heal on the 1974 trip.

Nick made the journey in 1974 with two college friends and so Will decided to recreate the trip with two of his friends.

Will was joined on the bike by his girlfriend Sian Funning, 17, from Fremington and friend Scott Branch, 19, from Monkleigh near Torrington.

The teenagers, who have all been studying at Petroc in Barnstaple, took on the challenge in aid of the Children's Hospice South West.

They completed the ride in just under 15 days and even got up to a maximum speed of 46.9mph going down a Scottish moutain on the tridem.

Will said: "It was an experience to say the least. We had our ups and downs, but the ups far outweighed the downs."

He said the trip was plagued by the tridem breaking down and they spent more than four hours trying to fix a broken chain on their first night just 200 metres out of John O'Groats.

But, the generosity of those they met along the way helped them overcome the disheartening mechanical failures.

He said: "The first night we were preparing to sleep in a tent on concrete, but we met a man who owned an old church and he let us all stay there free of charge.

"We just couldn't believe it. It had been such a rubbish day, but that just made everything better.

"The tridem really wasn't made for those sorts of miles. The list of repairs went on and on, but it was definitely worth it in the end."

Sian said she loved the experience.

She said: "People were so kind and generous along the way. The three pedals all went around at different paces, so it was really difficult because we couldn't stay in sync.

"We all ended up with sore legs. I want to carry on keeping fit, but I'm certainly not getting on a bike any time soon."

Will's mum Carol, and Nick came and met the teenagers in Bodmin at the end of their journey.

Will said: "Dad was really glad we did it. I think he felt quite proud."

Will's sister Lizzie and friend Matt Fletcher drove alongside the cyclists.

The three cyclists have raised more than £1,000 of their £1,500 target.

To sponsor them visit www.justgiving.com/crazycollegekids.