A TEAM of police officers from Wiltshire are in training for a gruelling 180 mile cycling challenge.

Chief constable Mike Veale will be joined by Sgt Pete Tuite and PC Tracy Davies for the three-day event from London to Staffordshire.

Hundreds of riders from across the country will come together to make the journey from the National Police Memorial in the capital to the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield.

The cyclists are raising money for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) and will arrive at the arboretum to take part in the COPS 2016 Memorial Service on Sunday, July 31.

COPS is a registered charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have died on duty, rebuild their lives.

Mr Veale said: “[COPS] aims to ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such a tragedy, and that they remain part of the police family.

“I have ridden once before and found the whole experience physically and emotionally draining.

“The memorial service to celebrate and commemorate our fallen colleagues at the end of the cycle is incredibly moving and has a profound effect on me every time I attend.

“This year’s challenge has been made so much more important because the dangers we face as police staff and officers are becoming ever more real.

“The recent tragedies involving officers both here and abroad, staff and other public servants have made the dangers we face more vivid and horrifying than ever before.

“This has inspired me to make this small personal commitment and contribution to this incredibly worthwhile cause.”

Anyone who would like to support the cause can donate by visiting Mr Veale’s JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/Mike-Veale1