A former engineer in the city who bought a bike and joined a cycling club only six months ago is planning to ride 100 miles in aid of charity.

Paul Jackson, from Romford, had not ridden a bike for more than 25 years and the 41-year-old says his life has been completely changed since rediscovering his love of cycling after joining the Hornchurch Cycling Club in October.

“Now every spare moment I get I am out cycling,” he said.

“Cycling has completely taken over my life and I’ve even changed my career and moved into a cycling career because I wanted to do something I was passionate about.”

Paul, along with his 38-year-old wife Sarah, will take on the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100, which takes participants through the city and the Surrey countryside, on July 31.

The father of one will raise money for Saint Francis Hospice, in Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, because his wife’s grandad was cared for at the hospice in the 1990s.

Paul is certainly looking forward to the challenge and credits the cycling club and its members for giving him the motivation and enthusiasm to get on his bike.

“I hated my old life as it was so stressful. But now I look forward to going to work every day.

“I am fitter than I’ve been in years and it is really such a pleasure to ride with the club.

“Being part of a club helps you to realise what you can achieve with a bike.”