Former members of The Green Howards Regiment cycled 100 kilometres to raise funds for Blesma, the limbless veterans, which supports injured veterans.

The annual event, organised by Blesma member and ambassador Jonathan Bell, attracted more than 50 cyclists, who have raised more than £6,000 from their efforts around a course that started and finished in Pickering.

“It was a great day and fantastic to see old friends from the regiment and their families who supported us throughout the ride,” said Bell, who served in The Green Howards – now part of the Yorkshire Regiment – for nine years.

“A lot of people were involved in organising the ride and making it possible for us to raise so much for Blesma. It was a great turn out and there was lots of banter throughout the day that made it thoroughly enjoyable.

“We have doing the Blesma 100 for eight years now and it is always well supported by veterans and the public.”

Bell, 56, was injured was injured with 15 other soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Green Howards when a car went through a foot patrol at night during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain in 1993. The accident left him paralysed from the upper chest, with severe head and leg injuries, and needing a foot amputation.

He left the army aged 26 and, after extensive rehabilitation, studied for a university degree before joining the BBC, working as a producer on programmes such as Panorama and Newsnight.

“Blesma got me into hand cycling and this ride is about getting old friends back together and doing something to support a charity that helps so many people,” added Bell, who lives in Surrey. “There is a great camaraderie in The Green Howards and they reflect the best of that area of North Yorkshire and Teesside – tough but very friendly and very kind.

“It was a big team effort with lots of people making sure all the cyclists had water and everything they needed round the route. The public support was fantastic and it is great to be able to raise awareness about Blesma and the work it does to help service personnel lead independent lives after injury.”