BIG-HEARTED cyclists were out in droves enjoying the hot weather and doing their bit for a leading charity.

The British Heart Foundation unveiled a new route for this year’s Worcester Bike Ride which started out from the city’s Sixways stadium yesterday.

More than 450 cyclists got in the saddle to enjoy a ride around rural Worcestershire, either on the 12, 30 or 50-mile route which took people out to Abbot’s Lench, near Evesham, and back again.

Jemma Curran, event organiser, said a last-minute appeal for more volunteer route marshals and helpers had also delivered results.

“It’s been a big success,” she said.

“We had a new route this year which can be a hard sell sometimes.

“But the weather helped us, and I also have to say a big thank-you to all our helpers and a lot of the pubs along the route who helped out.”

She gave special mention to staff at the Wheelbarrow & Castle at Abbot’s Morton who donated water, fruit and manned a refreshment stand there.

Organisers had hoped to raise £22,000 from the event to fight heart and circulatory disease.