THE search is on to find two tandem bicycles to be ridden in the Tour de Tendring in May.

Mark Platt, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for tourism is taking part to raise money for two charities who support blind people.

He and his friend, Sean Dilley from Stevenage who is blind, will take on the 20-mile course on one of the tandems.

Mr Platt’s brother, Alex, and Sean’s fiancée, Siobhan, who lives in Great Yarmouth, and is also blind will be on the second tandem.

They aim to raise funds for Mr Platt’s Light into Europe charity – which is based in Frinton and supports Guide Dogs for the Blind in Romania - and a local charity which supports blind people.

“I will be consulting one of Tendring Council’s members, Garry Calver, who is blind to find a local charity to support, and the money will be split half and half,” he said.

“We all believe that we can do the 20-miler, the 6-mile route is a bit short and the 60-mile route too ambitious.

“Now all we need is for someone to come forward to lend us the bikes.”

The Tour de Tendring starts at 10.30am at Low Road in Dovercourt and riders will follow in the wake of the world’s best female cyclists who head off on stage five of the Women’s Tour event at 10am.