A couple from East Sheen have completed the Ho Chi Minh Trail challenge, cycling 1,000 miles in 11 days through Vietnam and Laos, for the British Heart Foundation.

Clive Hills and Virginia Morris, took on the testing route across south-east Asia as a thank you to the charity after Mr Hills underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation.

They began the challenge on March 30 in northern Vietnam, before travelling through Laos and finishing in southern Vietnam on April 9. The couple split the distance between them to allow one of them to always be with their children, Bluebell, six, and Albion, three, who accompanied them on the trip.

Mr Hills said: "We were told by many people that we should not go because we had children but they had a great time, tasting new food, meeting the tribal people and experiencing another side to life."

The challenging trail was the north Vietnamese logistical supply line during the Vietnam war and became one of the most heavily bombed regions on earth.

Ms Morris said: "A part of the trail had not been cleared of bombs and I cycled past one controlled explosion.

"The hardest part though, was the heat. It was regularly over 40C in Laos."

To donate, visit thehochiminhtrailchallenge.com.