A FUNERAL director has conquered a fierce charity cycling challenge by pedalling from London to Paris in only four days.

Julian Walker, of A.B Walker, only started cycling a year ago, but he overcame the 300-mile route to raise more than £2,000 for the Royal British Legion.

The 48-year-old served as an infantry officer before joining the family business, which has been serving Berkshire for more than two centuries.

Mr Walker competed alongside hundreds of other fundraisers in the Pedal to Paris challenge, making his way from the Capital to the iconic Arc de Triomphe, where a service of Remembrance was held.

He said: "It is an experience I will not forget. Whenever we went through a village in France people were hanging out of their windows cheering.

"It made the hills feel slightly shorter to have that local support.

"I served as an infantry officer before joining the family business and I know the importance of the support offered by the Royal British Legion."

He managed to raise more than £2,000 for the Legion, the nation’s biggest Armed Forces charity, which delivers through life support to Serving personnel, veterans and their families.

Mr Walker enjoyed training for the ride and plans to continue cycling, adding: "It is a healthy and very friendly sport and it has also given me the opportunity to see more of the area where I live.

Clair Rowcliffe, director of fundraising at the Legion, said: "We are very grateful to Julian for taking on the Pedal to Paris challenge.

"It really is an incredible experience and is now in its 22nd year."

Visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julianwalkerpedaltoparis to make a donation to the fundraising page.