Super gran, aged 81, finishes 960-mile cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats

An 81-year-old record-breaking grandmother has become the oldest woman to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats and says she’s "very tired”.

Despite needing a hip operation and knee replacements, Mavis Paterson never gave up her cycling challenge for charity, which has now landed her in the Guinness Book of Records.

Her herculean efforts covering nearly 1,000 miles has been spurred on by the “unbearable grief”, she felt while sitting at home after the death of her three children. Her son Sandy died of a heart attack in 2012, daughter Katie died from viral pneumonia in 2013 and her other son Bob died after an accident in 2016.

She says her osteoarthritis is painful whenever she walks but thankfully did not hurt when she cycled. Now her challenge is over, the gran from Galloway, Scotland will go to hospital for hip and knee replacements.

The octogenarian said, speaking to BBC Scotland: "The whole journey was very difficult for me. It was hard, but I've got his fire in my belly, and I keep pressing on."

Having begun her mammoth journey on 30 May with her cycling friend Heather Curley, Mrs Paterson was cheered by well-wishers when she reached the finish line on Saturday afternoon (22 June).

The Scottish woman’s training for the cycle ride involved peddling up the hills in Australia from 5am every morning until it got too hot - which was typically 9am when the temperature was 30-40C.

Posting on Facebook, she said: ‘It’s hard to find the words now. After three weeks of an utterly unforgettable journey. We did it.

‘So very, very grateful for all the support, the fun, friendships, cyclists who joined for a few miles, vehicle drivers – especially for their tea-making skills, campsites, tearooms, gifts of home baking, gifts of cycling gear, teacakes and caramel wafers, liquid sustenance of all forms, good wishes, media interest, bike repairers, phone fixers, encouraging messages on social media, witnesses who signed verification sheets, sponsorship, and – of course - the donations.

‘The funds for Macmillan Cancer Support will help so many people who need it, and that’s what matters.’

The supergran has a £20,000 target but has actually raised almost £60,000 to date (24 June) for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity she has backed since cancer claimed the lives of her mother and her sister.

Her cycling buddy Heather Curley said via Facebook: ‘Saying cheerio to Mavis was hard but so happy we’re finished and even happier at our total so far.

'Blown away by all the donations. Thank you everyone.’

Mrs Paterson meanwhile is already thinking about life after her hip and knee replacements. She said: "I feel now it's all over I'm like 'what now?'”

To donate to the 81-year-old's Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising page click here

Posting a video on her Facebook page @maviscycle, Mavis Paterson is seen having a singsong in the road with her cycling pal Ms Curley.