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The fourth annual Wigan Bike Ride was due to be held last month, starting at Mesnes Park, but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, organisers at charity Joining Jack challenged people to take part in a virtual bike ride and help raise money for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

They could either follow their own 50-mile route or cover the distance in smaller rides throughout July.

The virtual ride proved to be a big success, raising £10,000 for Joining Jack and taking the total amount collected since the event started in 2017 past £100,000.

Melanie Whitehead, from Joining Jack, said: “We are really pleased with how everything has gone. We have raised £10,000 which, considering it’s a virtual ride, is incredible.

“The rides have raised £95,000 since we started and we were looking forward to smashing the £100,000 barrier this year.”

More than 270 people took part, with riders of all ages and abilities getting on their bikes.

Hundreds of people took part in the virtual challenge

The virtual nature of the event meant location was not important and cyclists in Australia, Chile, USA and the United Arab Emirates signed up.

A team of 170 members from Total Tri Training got involved, completing the ride as part of a long-distance charity weekend.

Participants were asked to share photographs of themselves taking on the distance, with many wearing retro Joining Jack jerseys from previous rides and doing the Joining Jack salute.

Melanie said: “Everybody has been thanking us for putting it on and enabling them to take part still.

“There have been quite a few people who said they wouldn’t have been able to do 50 miles in one go, but because they could break it up, that has encouraged them to take

part.

“We changed the age limit as well and had a five-year-old completing it.

“We were absolutely gutted that we had to cancel the event itself at Mesnes Park, but everyone has been so supportive.”

T-shirts and medals for everyone who completed the virtual ride are expected to be dispatched shortly.

More than £100k now raised for charity as Wigan Bike Ride goes virtual