Twenty cyclists from a Wembley based housing association have returned from a 300 mile bike ride raising £66,000 for a homeless charity.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Twenty Network Homes cyclists at the 300 mile finish line by the Eiffel TowerTwenty Network Homes cyclists at the 300 mile finish line by the Eiffel Tower (Image: Archant)

Staff from Network Homes raced from London to Paris from September 13-16 with the highest ever amount raised for St Mungo’s during a challenge.

Cyclist James Dean, corporate projects director at Network Homes, said: “I loved the riding and getting to know my colleagues better. This is an epic achievement from our cyclists and we’ve raised a lot of money for St Mungo’s.

Homelessness has risen in Brent by 39pc in the last year according to data the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN)

In 2016/17 294 people slept rough in Brent, up from 214 the year before but the figure does not include less visible forms of homelessness such as sofa surfing or people living in hostels.

Network Homes’ staff chose St Mungo’s as the company’s Charity of the Year.

Helen Evans, chief executive of Network Homes, said: “We’re proud to be supporting St Mungo’s in their aim of ending homelessness and rebuilding lives. We believe good homes make everything possible and having a safe, secure place to call home helps to create stability in employment, mental health and wellbeing.”

Robert Neale, corporate partnership executive at St Mungo’s, said: “We would like to thank everyone who made this possible – from the cyclists and their supporters, to the event organisers and companies sponsoring the Network Homes team.”