It is one of best known charity rides in the east that attracts entrants from across the region.

And the 21st Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride has started taking entries online for this year's ride on Sunday, May 14.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Beccles, and based at the Sir John Leman High School, the charity ride will this year see all children - riders under 18 - entering free of charge thanks to financial support from Norfolk and Suffolk Chartered Financial Planners.

The ride will equally raise funds for East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Rotary Club's charitable trust - which supports both local charitable causes and international charitable needs.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Some of the entrants in the Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride in 2022.Some of the entrants in the Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride in 2022. (Image: John Swanbury)

The ride is suitable for all ages and abilities with five possible distances of eight, 16, 25, 41 and 50 miles and it attracts families and regular cyclists alike.

With helmets compulsory, E-bikes may be ridden with the routes all heading onto country roads to the south of Beccles.

Riders of all categories can enter directly online through the event's secure website becclescycleforlife.org and it is also possible to enter at the school on the day - but this on-the-day price is a little more.

The success of the event is helped by many riders obtaining personal sponsorship from friends and family rather than just paying the entry fees.

Lord Somerleyton is offering a prize of a day entry voucher to Somerleyton Gardens for up to a family of four, for the rider who raises the most sponsorship.

Organiser Paul Randle said: "This year the website is even easier to use than before and you can make secure payments to sign up.

"The entries have started coming in and we hope for a good response.

"Most of our riders usually come from Beccles, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and lots of other local areas."