A CIRENCESTER student is cycling more than 700 miles from his hometown to Paris to raise money for a child bereavement charity.

Freddie Martindale, 17, is no stranger to long bike rides and cycled from Cirencester to Cambridge in a day last year.

He decided to really increase the challenge this year by cycling all the way from his home in Chesterton to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to raise money for childhood bereavement charity Winston's Wish.

"He has been cycling 70 miles on weekends and sometimes 50 miles after college," said his mum Bali Martindale. "Often he disappears for a bit and when I ask him where he went he says he cycled to Bristol to have tea and cake with Grandma.

"His grandfather was a racing cyclist and I think Freddie wants to follow in his footsteps."

The Cirencester College student spent most of his spare time working at the town leisure centre to raise money for his trip.

He chose Winston's Wish for the kindness and invaluable support it provides and he hopes to raise £650. He has raised almost £120 so far.

"He's going to be doing a bit of sight-seeing while he's there," added Bali. "It was scary when he left but to have that freedom is amazing."

Freddie left his home in Chesterton on June 29 and was accompanied by his brother Ned and a few friends all the way to Swindon. He is due back home on July 17.

Visit justgiving.com/freddie-cycle to donate to his cause. See the Standard on July 24 for a full report on Freddie's charity mission when he returns home.