Eastern Daily Press photographer Ian Burt and reporter David Blackmore have started a marathon bike ride to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

It has been two years since Ian's youngest son Calum had a life-changing operation on his skull at the famous London hospital.

Ian and his wife Rebecca were so delighted by the treatment they received at the hospital throughout their ordeal, he decided to take part in a bike ride in a bid to raise vital funds and roped in friend David.

Ian and David started their challenge at 8am in the Vancouver Quarter, in King's Lynn, and they are hoping to cycle 106 miles each - which combined is the equivalent of King's Lynn to the hospital and back.

The pair are hoping to complete the static exercise bike challenge in ten hours while raising �2,000 for the charity, which needs to raise �50m each year to help rebuild and refurnish Great Ormond Street Hospital, buy vital equipment and fund essential research.

Ian said: 'Everyone at the hospital was fantastic to all of us and really helped us pull through.

'They have to deal with a lot and to be honest I am not sure how they manage to deal with it but they were so great to us. It's an incredible place but they rely on �50m of charity donations each year so that is why we decided to do our bit to help.'

He added Calum has now been told he no longer needs to return to the hospital for check ups.

The exercise bikes are being provided by Bodyworks Fitness Studio in Lynn.

The pair have been training on regular bikes and covering distances of up to 25 miles on the cycle paths and roads around King's Lynn to prepare for the challenge.

You can follow them on Twitter today @Ian_Burt and @DavidBlackm0re and send them words of encouragement by using #BurtysBigBikeRide.

To sponsor Ian and David, visit www.justgiving.com/burtysbigbikeride.

For more information about the hospital visit www.gosh.org.