SOUTHEND United's director swapped the football pitch for open roads as he cycled more than 600 miles for charity.

Gary Lockett, former chief executive of the club, spend eight days cycle from his home in Southend to the town's namesake in Argyll, Scotland.

The lifelong Shrimpers fan decided to take on the challenge in a bid to keep fit and support Havens Hospices.

He raised nearly £2,000.

Mr Lockett said: “The timing for the cycle was perfect because the football season had just ended and I had two weeks free.

“I am not a natural athlete, and not naturally a cyclist either but I like living so I try make sure I keep healthy.

“I started training in January, gradually increasing my distances until I could cycle to Tower Bridge in London and back home again- that was when I knew I would be able to pull this off and I fully committed to it.”

He set off on his adventure on Tuesday, May 10.

Mr Lockett said the biggest challenge was not the actual bike ride, but carrying all of his equipment.

He said: “It was just me and my bike. The whole cycle was unsupported which meant that I had to carry all my own gear. My bike was so light that I could pick it up with one finger but my extra gear was 20kg.

“The first couple of days were easy because I wasn’t tired out yet but day three and four were really tough. I definitely won’t do it again unsupported."

However, Mr Lockett also has good memories of the journey.

He added: “The best thing about the whole experience was seeing other parts of the country that I wouldn’t usually see. I went a completely new route, cycling through Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Edinburgh and Argyll.

“It was great to take it all in and a nice way to see the country. And I only fell off once when I was trying to stop- I couldn’t get my foot out of the clip but luckily had a soft landing onto grass."

Mr Lockett cycled daily from 9am until 5pm, using the evenings to recover and sleep in hotels.

He added: “The nights were also great because I got to meet lots of new people. And football is always a good opener."

He said the Scottish town of Southend was "certainly different" from his hometown, consisting of just eight houses, a pub, a village store, a golf course and a natural beach."

Mr Lockett had just a few days to recover before he was back to work at Roots Hall.

He is determined to continue keeping fit, and has signed up to a series of triathlons later this year.

To donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=GaryLockett