HARDCORE cyclists are to push themselves to the limit by pedalling non-stop for 24 hours for Comic Relief.

Three regulars and the landlord at the Black Horse in Banbury Road, Kidlington, will slog it out on static ‘spinning’ bikes, which have a disc at the front that makes it difficult to stop pedalling.

Meanwhile, good causes have until tomorrow to apply for a share of a £50,000 Oxford Mail cash pot launched to celebrate Red Nose Day.

Landlord Kevin McEneaney said he would have to give up a day’s revelry as the March 17 challenge will coincide with St Patrick’s Day.

Mr McEneaney and Aziz Scott, Neil Drury and Mick Dunn will start at 10pm and cycle into March 18, Red Nose Day, in the bid to raise more than £2,000.

Two years ago Mr McEneaney, who lives at the pub, raised more than £1,000 when he sat in a bath outside the pub for 24 hours.

The team is now taking sponsorship at the Black Horse.

He said: “This is a bit harder than sitting in a bath of water. We are not planning to take one break the whole time and, if we do, we will stop the clock so we do the full 24 hours.

“It’ll hopefully bring in all the community to raise money for a good cause.”

Meanwhile, mums-to-be will be able to get their tummies painted for £5 a time to raise cash for Comic Relief.

Organiser Gita Konschak, part of a 38-strong UK baby bump painting team, urged mums to get sponsored too.

The Risinghurst resident said: “The lady is about to embark on a new life. This gives her a chance to be pampered.

“The idea is that she can then have a photograph taken and have it as a keepsake of a special time in her life.

“We’ll paint anything they like, characters from books, the Red Nose Day logo or anything they want.”

For more information visit lapislizard.co.uk or phone 01865 760045.

The Oxford Mail has teamed up with Comic Relief to offer Oxfordshire communities a slice of £50,000. Grants of between £500 and £1,000 of Red Nose Day Community Cash are up for grabs for county groups and charities. For information on how to apply, visit oxfordmail.co.uk/li/red_nose or call 01865 798666. The closing date is tomorrow.