Senior management from Aviva were leading by example this afternoon after finishing a 200-mile cycle ride from York to Norwich outside the company's historic buildings on Surrey Street.

The team of 13 - including Aviva's UK CEO Mark Hodges - set off for Norfolk on Tuesday and have already raised over �50,000, a figure which has been matched by the company to push the total above �100,000.

Priscilla Bacon Lodge is the regional charity nominated by Norwich staff to benefit from a third of the total, along with Aviva's national charity partner Railway Children and the Martin House charity in York.

CEO of the general insurance branch in Norwich David McMillan said at the finish line: 'There were some tough moments, I definitely preferred the hedge rows of Norfolk to the big open countryside of Lincolnshire because it was very windy!

'I'm pleased to be finished but it was a great achievement and we really cycled as a team.'

Aviva encourages its employees to get involved with volunteering and fundraising by giving staff three days of paid leave each year to take part in similar activities.

UK CEO Mr Hodges added: 'I'm proud of all the people who cycled with us, it was a great bunch, and we have raised a lot of money for three great charities.

'One of the things we wanted to do was show our staff that you are allowed three days to do these types of things and get out there and help people.

'So I'm relieved to be off the bike but we're really pleased to have already raised over �100,000.'

Last year Aviva workers spent 24,000 hours volunteering on projects around the UK.

The other cyclists included former German international sprint cyclist Axel Schmidt, chief underwriting officer at Aviva UK, and retail director of the general insurance branch in Norwich, Steve Treloar.

Donations can be made to the Tour d'Aviva at: www.tour.aviva.com