A group of teenagers have helped to raise more than £2,500 for charity after swapping their lacrosse sticks for pedal power.

The friends have been raising money for diabetes charity JDRF, a cause close to the heart of Lottie Franklin, from Ross-on-Wye, whose younger brother, Mattie, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Six members of the under-15s lacrosse team at Monmouth School for Girls cycled a combined distance of 72km in one day – the equivalent of reaching the top of Mount Everest.

Other members of the lacrosse team, including Lottie Franklin, ran a cake stall in front of the Shire Hall in Monmouth.

Lottie said: “We set out to raise £1,000 initially and we weren’t sure we would reach that amount. But the support has been incredible and we’ve more than doubled our original target.

“We had such a great time doing the challenge, raising awareness and money at the same time. We want to thank all those who have been generous in supporting our efforts.”

Fifteen-year-old Scarlett Penn explained: “We cycled around country lanes, on a hilly route that gave us a final aggregate vertical gain of 29,028ft as well as an aggregate distance of over 300 miles.

“There has been talk about us repeating the challenge next year with running or swimming.”

Gabi Freeman, Holly Mardell, Amelia Taylor, Maya Woodward, Lucia Carini, Yasmin Hay, Tatjana Mount, Scarlett Robinson, Emma Smith, Issy Wetter and Emily Farrington were other members who took part.