A LIDDINGTON dad has set off on his bid to break the Lands End to John O'Groats cycling world record.

Ian To, 37, hit the road at 6.05am this morning from the Lands End Hotel, Cornwall. He hopes to pedal the 840 miles to the tip of Scotland in under 44 hours.

Team manager Graham Mearns said: "He’s going well. 16 miles done so far – average speed of 21 mph. To beat the record he has to average at least 19.5 for the whole journey."

Business consultant Ian told the Swindon Advertiser: “The world record is really tight, it was set by Gethin Butler in 2001, and he’s a legend in his own right. Many have tried since and many have failed to break that record.

“I’m confident I can do it. I want to smash it. It would be making history.”Ian will be raising funds for the National Autistic Society. Daughter Elise is on the autistic spectrum. Cyclist Ian said: "It's nice to be able to give something back."

To sponsor Ian, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarah-to.

We'll be following Ian's progress throughout the day...