A HUSBAND and wife from Blackwood are planning to ride their motorbikes the length of Britain in 48 hours next week - to raise funds for charity.

Stuart Davies, 37, and his wife Valerie, who is 34, will set off from Land's End early on Saturday morning and hope to arrive in John O'Groats by Sunday night.

They are hoping to avoid motorways as much as possible during the 900-mile ride, which will take them through Cornwall and Devon, then into Avon and north through mid-Wales.

They are planning to stop overnight at Morecambe in Lancashire and then continue on Sunday through the Lake District to Gretna Green through Glasgow, past Loch Lomond and Fort William and finally to John O'Groats.

They estimate that the actual riding time will be around 19 hours.

The couple's seven-year-old son Kieran suffers from Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism - and they are raising money for the National Autistic Society with the ride.

They have already been pledged £150 and are looking for more sponsorship money, particularly for petrol.

"We would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us so far and South Wales Superbikes, Newport, for its assistance in getting waterproof gear," said Mr Davies, who is an IT analyst.

Anyone who can help or wants more information should contact the National Autistic Society on 020 7903 3663.