A DOCTOR and a family who lost their dad following a heart attack were among those to take part in a charity bike ride to keep our hearts healthy.

Rain and grey skies failed to dampen the spirits of the cyclists for the Hearts First bike ride which began at Worcester Racecourse yesterday.

More than 230 cyclists took part in the ride, each of them choosing an eight-mile, a 32-mile or a 48-mile route through Worcestershire.

The event is expected to raise more than £20,000 for the British Heart Foundation.

Among those to take part was 45-year-old Dr Richard Woof, a GP based at Corbett medical practice, Droitwich.

He chose to do the eight mile ride because he is still recovering from a knee operation. He was cheered on by wife Alison, 47, and sons William, eight, and Rory, seven.

Dr Woof said: “I think the British Heart Foundation does good work and we have a BHF nurse helping us out who goes to visit patients who are vulnerable. That’s a very useful support to us. The children are good at shouting me on.”

Brother and sister Andrew and Louise Digger of Lechmere Crescent, off Hallow Road, Worcester, took part in the 32-mile ride. They have been keen supporters of the British Heart Foundation since their father Bert died 21 years ago from a heart attack.

Their mother Hazel died 14 years ago of a blood clot and both are eager to put something back into the British Heart Foundation, a charity which fights to reduce heart and circulatory disease.

Miss Digger said: “We chose to do it to put something back into the BHF. It’s a very worthwhile cause.”

Mr Digger said he hoped that the excellent research that was being conducted into ways of reducing heart disease would continue.

Vaughan Hencher of Henwick Road, St John’s, Worcester, opted not to do the ride on his penny farthing.