A KEIGHLEY man cycling around the coast of Britain to help improve his mental health has been overwhelmed by the hospitality of people on the way.

Folk in England and Wales have been offering Ryan Anderton a bed or sofa for the night after following his progress on social media.

Others are stopping to chat or give him encouragement as he rides past on his 4,802-mile journey to raise funds for – and awareness of – mental health charity Mind.

Ryan, 38, also embarked on the challenge to build his own positive attitude, after battling over the years with depression and behavioural issues.

Starting training this March, he launched the “Recycle Yourself” campaign to recognise his need to ‘start again’ and put his troubled past behind him.

Ryan, whose family live in Oxenhope, last year rode 1,036 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats in eight days on behalf of mental health organisation Andy’s Man Club and the homeless charity Centrepoint UK.

He began his latest journey last month in Blackpool, cycling anti-clockwise around the coast of Wales and Cornwall before last week reaching the south coast of England.

While Ryan tends to rise an average of 228 miles a day, posting his progress online, his sister Stacey is using social media to find him places him to stay.

Ryan’s stepfather Jim spent last Sunday at the Oxenhope Co-op store riding a static cycle for 12 hours at the same time as his son was cycling on the roads.

Jim said: “We wanted to raise awareness in Oxenhope of what Ryan is doing, and help keep Ryan motivated. Ryan started cycling a couple of years ago and found it really helped him. He’s turning the corner and making sure he’s doing the right thing now.

“He’s plotted a route that uses the nearest tarmac roads to the coast. He’s taken a tent and sleeping bag, but as social media took off people have been offering to put him up for the night.”

To donate to the challenge, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ryanridesaroundbritain, or text RECY48 and your amount to 70070. Follow Mr Anderton’s progress at facebook.com/recycleyourselfcampaign or Twitter.com/recycle_yourself.