The Cycle 100 team started their biking challenge in John O’Groats and finish at Lands End on August 12. They will be raising money for charity in the Thornton stores on route.

The cyclists will also be passing through Thornton Park, the company’s head office in Alfreton, on August 3, where the board directors and many colleagues will be joining the team for an eight mile leg of the cycle to the nearby Thorntons store at the East Midlands Designer Outlet.

The team is made up of employees from Thorntons' head office and factory, along with store colleagues.

Ryan Bishop, Leigh Alliss, Robert Butt, Andrew Newbould and Joanne Attenborough are aiming to raise £20,000 for the Thorntons charity of the year, the NSPCC.

Team leader Ryan Bishop of Swanwick, Derbyshire said: “I’ve always wanted to cycle the famous route  and Thorntons 100th birthday seemed the perfect opportunity to do it. There is a real excitement about our centenary and we wanted to celebrate it with as many of our stores around the UK as possible, whilst raising money for such a good cause.

“There was an overwhelming response from staff wanting to get involved and I chose a team of four other riders to accompany me and we trained for over eight months.”