A BELL ringing schoolboy is preparing to cycle 50 miles, stopping to ring bells at 11 Worcestershire churches along the way.

Jacob Edwards, from Shrawley, devised the sponsored cycling challenge as a way to raise money for a trip he intends to make to India this summer.

The 15-year old needs around £2,710 for the trip, which he is taking along with 14 others from Chantry High School, in Martley, with the organisation World Challenge.

The group will visit Uttarakhan, where they will help carry out charity work as well as make a three-day trek to the foothills of the Himalayas, in July.

Jacob said: “I feel that to go to somewhere like India would be an incredible experience as well as the ability to help people while I’m over there.

“We leave on July 19 and come back two weeks later.

“Uttarakhan is in the north in the foothills of the Himalayas and we will also do a three-day trek.

“I need to raise £2,710 and I’ve done a bit of gardening, helping out mowing lawns and strimming so far and I’ve raised about £1,100.”

The cycle ride on Saturday is the latest fundraising idea for Jacob, who is a keen volunteer church bell ringer and Cub Scout young leader for Abberley and Witley.

Jacob will start from Astley Church and stop to ring bells at ten more churches in the Martley Guild district, finishing at Shrawley Church where he is a regular bell ringer.

He said: “It’s about 46-50 miles and will probably take me about six or seven hours.

“We’ve set times for me to reach the churches and so far I’ve been matching them.

“I’m hoping for a bit of sponsorship. I think I’ve made about £150.

“I’ve been cycling most weekends for a while and I’m stepping up my training now.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Jacob for his cycling challenge can do so at generosity.com/community-fundraising/jacob-india-50-mile-and-11-churches-cycle