AN OXENHOPE cyclist who has survived depression and suicide attempts has finished his mammoth cycle ride around the entire coast of Britain.

Ryan Anderton used the power of cycling to improve his mental health and wellbeing as he rode 4,802 miles through England, Wales and Scotland.

Raising money and awareness for mental health charity Mind, he ended his ride at his starting point, Blackpool Tower, after six weeks in the saddle.

After finishing, he took to social media to tell supporters he had raised around £7,000. Among those he thanked were his “superstar” dad for riding alongside him on parts of the route.

And he revealed messages he had received, from people facing their own mental health problems who had drawn inspiration from his efforts.

Ryan, 38, slept in a tent some nights, and on others stayed with strangers after Facebook appeals for accommodation.

He took time out on the coastal paths and beaches to talk about mental health to holidaymakers, residents – and even to a group of schoolchildren on a field trip.

Ryan chose Blackpool as the start and end of his ride for a poignant reason. He was first admitted to a mental health hospital ward after travelling to the seaside town and attempting suicide in a B&B in Blackpool at the age of 30.

He said: “I call it my ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ moment after the film when Nicolas Cage decides to go there to drink himself to death.

“Eight years on, I have used the power of cycling to launch my own mental health campaign, Recycle Yourself. Cycling seemed to work for me instantly. I’ve always been an active person and cycling provided that physicality.

“What I didn’t realise at first is that it also suppressed my need to escape because I was riding to different places and having the time to reassess my thoughts whilst I was in a positive place.”

The Recycle Yourself idea comes from Ryan’s troubled past, and aims to show that anyone can create a new version of themselves.

Ryan, did his ride on behalf of the Bradford Mind group and in tribute to his uncle who passed away earlier this year while under the care of the NHS mental health services.

He hopes to create awareness and funds for the charitable mental health sector. It is the charitable sector which he credits with helping him and his uncle with its help and support.