A WEEKEND in Paris with Champagne and a romantic meal for two... or a gruelling 1,000 mile cycle ride from one end of the country to the other – which would you choose to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary?

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but a 15-day adventure from Land’ss End to John O’Groats – helping to raise almost �1,000 for charity in the process – was an experience Saffron Walden couple George and Karen Carr won’t forget in a hurry.

“We stopped calling it a holiday on the second day when we realised quite how difficult it was going to be,” Mrs Carr, of Harris Yard, joked. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the most romantic of holidays but it was certainly a memorable way of celebrating our silver wedding anniversary.

“We wanted to have a holiday that was a bit different and have always been keen cyclists. We’ve toured around France and the UK before but have never done anything quite like this.

“It was really hard going but so rewarding when we got to the finish line knowing we had raised so much money for charity.”

Although the couple do not officially celebrate their milestone anniversary until October, they wanted to take advantage of the warmer summer weather rather than wait until later in the year.

And Mrs Carr, 51, said her and her husband George, 62, were hoping to do something a bit more romantic for the day itself.

In the meantime, she is compiling a photobook of memories from their journey and hoping they can get over the finish line of their charity target.

“We have so far raised a fantastic �976 for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and that has made the whole experience so rewarding, but we would love to reach �1,000,” Mrs Carr told the Reporter.

“It certainly added to the pressure of completing at least 70 miles each day but it gave us that extra determination to complete the challenge knowing that the money was going to such a worthwhile cause.”

To help the Carr’s reach their fundraising target, visit justgiving.com/Karen-Carr60