An Oxford couple who had their bicycles stolen will set off today on a charity ride after buying new machines.

Daniel Smith and Carly Heywood, from East Oxford, will set off from Buckingham Palace for the 250-mile ride to Notre Dame in Paris.

Mr Smith, 27, and his partner Miss Heywood, 24, hoped to raise £3,000 for a new minibus for a Ghanian orphanage. Their total is now up to £700.

The bikes were taken from Reliance Way, on April 4 after thieves cut though the locks. Mr Smith said: “I replaced the bikes and we had time for one proper training cycle.”