CYCLISTS have raised thousands of pounds for a mental health charity in memory of a friend who died last year.

The Yarnbury to Yarnbury bike ride raised a total £14500 for the charity Inkwell in tribute to Nick Mercer who helped raise money for disadvantaged children when he took part in the same ride in 2016.

Nick, who was a member of Yarnbury RFC in Horsforth was struck down with an acute mental illness which led to his death.

Nick's family and friends joined club members to take part in this year's ride from the club house on Brownberrie Lane to the the Hamlet of Yarnbury near Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales.

A cheque was presented to Inkwell at the club's annual beer festival which was attended by hundreds of local enthusiasts.

A spokesman for the club said: "The Yarnbury Club has previously raised around £40,000 for the Air Ambulance and other local charities despite the difficulties of running rugby club for players from eight years to senior levels and rigorously retains its amateur status for the 150 years plus of its lifetime.

"This year the funds raised will be in memory of our much loved friend and Club member Nick Mercer."

A statement on the club’s website earlier this year said: "Nick took enormous pleasure in taking part in each of the previous Y2Y charity rides. He was in his element enjoying the beautiful Yorkshire Dales under his own steam with old friends and new and always for a very worthy charitable cause. Little did he know, during the last ride in June 2016, that he would be struck within two months by an acute mental illness that would lead to his unfortunate death."

The ride, which took place in June, was being held for the fifth year.

The rugby club took its name from the hamlet of Yarnbury in 1896 after a short social tour. Players were entertained in the hamlet just outside Grassington after a game against the local side.