A Mulbarton father has cycled through the night to raise thousands of pounds in memory of his baby son, who died at just a few weeks old.

Eastern Daily Press: Family picture of Jude Taylor.Family picture of Jude Taylor.

David Taylor was joined by 22 friends for the night-time cycle through the streets of London in a bid to raise £17,000 for a portable x-ray machine for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in memory of baby Jude.

Eastern Daily Press: The Taylor family - David, Mary and Ethan. Photo: Steve AdamsThe Taylor family - David, Mary and Ethan. Photo: Steve Adams

The team started at 10.15pm, setting out from the Olympic Park and returning there at around 6am the next morning, after cycling 100km around the capital, taking in more than 50 of its famous landmarks.

The 36-year-old, who lives in Bromedale Avenue with his wife Mary and five-year-old son Ethan, said: 'It was amazing. It was so nice riding through London and through the night. At about 5am we went past Tower Bridge with the sun coming up and there were about 20 hot air balloons going over - it was stunning.'

At 2am in the morning, six of the riders, including Mr Taylor, took a diversion to Great Ormond Street Hospital's chapel, where they lit a candle in memory of Jude, who died at the hospital in April last year, a few weeks after undergoing heart surgery when he was just five days old.

Jude had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which meant he essentially had half a heart, and while he rallied at first following the surgery, his condition deteriorated and on April 28, 2014, he died in his mum's arms.

Mr Taylor said: 'Doing the ride wasn't hard but it was very emotional.'

Mr Taylor said 16 of his fellow cyclists were from Norfolk, while other friends had travelled from all over the country to support the fundraising ride, and so far around £16,000 towards the £17,000 target has been raised.

Norwich businesses which have sponsored and supported the ride include Streetlife Cycles, the Surrey Tavern pub, Barford Van Hire, Hilltop Outdoor Centre, Laura Howard Hair and Beauty and Cecil Amey Opticians.

The Anglian Water technician said: 'I just want to say thank you to all of them and the cyclists and everyone who has supported us and donated.

'All of our friends have been amazing. They have supported us so well and they have all done this to raise money in memory of Jude and it means a lot to us.'

To donate, log on to www.justgiving.com/David-Taylor98/

Do you have a story about how you have been helped by GOSH? Call reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772474.