A YATE company is in the saddle to help raise thousands of pounds for victims of the Chernobyl disaster.

Astra Communications, on Dean Road, is sponsoring a one-man challenge to cycle not only the greatest distance between two points in the country, but also to the eight compass points of Great Britain.

Pete Naish, 52, is taking up the two-wheel road trip which will take 25 days and 2,000 miles to complete.

Astra managing director Paul Beet said: "Astra pride’s itself on supporting clubs and charities within the local community, as I believe that despite the difficult economic climate business should be seen to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

"I am delighted to be able to help Peter in a small way, in what will be an arduous challenge geared towards offering children associated with the Chernobyl disaster a wonderful opportunity."

Mr Naish and his wife Liz, from Patchway, are life members of the Bristol group of Chernoybl Children’s Lifeline and every year act as hosts to a group of children from the area in Belarus worst affected by the 1986 disaster.

He said: "We got involved by default really as we were asked to be hosts when another family dropped out, and we have never looked back since.

"These are young people who deserve a chance. They have never left their country before and we send them home well fed and very happy."

Mr Naish has previously cycled from Land’s End to John O’ Groats but said this time he was doing it the ‘hard way’. He will follow a route taking in Lizard Point, the furthest point south, Dover, the furthest south east, Lowestoft, the furthest east and the furthest points north east, north, north west and west at John O’ Groats, Dunnet Head, Cape Wrath and Ardnamurchan.

"It is 25 years since the Chernobyl disaster and I wanted to do something special," he said. "I will be cycling 80 miles a day for 25 days to mark each year since it happened."

He added: "It is a personal challenge but I am really looking forward to it and seeing things you just don’t see by car."

Chernobyl is the world’s worst ever nuclear disaster and there are still disputes over how many people will die from contamination-related illnesses.

To make a donation to the challenge visit www.mylejogchallenge.co.uk