Bobbies who rode to Paris set for well earned arrest

PARISIANS could be forgiven for stopping and staring as a troop of Scottish police cycled through the city to the sound of drums.

The Lothians officers received a heroes' welcome when they arrived in the French capital after an epic 220-mile charity bike ride. They made the journey to raise £14,000 to help a hospital in Malawi and build a home for Aids orphans in Kenya.

Organisers said the Auld Alliance Cycle ride was so successful they now hope to make it an annual event.

They have persuaded dozens of French and Belgian police to take part next year, and hope as many as 200 cyclists could take to the roads in future.

Allan Prentice, the Lothian and Borders force's head of finance, came up with the idea to raise funds for Malawi Ekendeni Hospital and Nyambani Aids Orphans in Kenya.

Their arrival attracted international attention and was broadcast on Australian radio.

Mr Prentice said: "We were treated like royalty when we arrived on the Champs Elysees.

"When we arrived in Paris we were met by the director of the police and two motorcyclists. We started in a procession and were joined by 30 more officers. They even had a police band playing for us.

"We were handing out gifts of shortbread and cases of Scottish & Newcastle beer to people along the way.

"Next year we want to bring the gendarmes over to Scotland, and they can cycle back with us. We'll also be bringing our own Lothian and Borders pipe band."

They were greeted on their arrival in the French capital by the Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë and the French police, after attending several civic receptions in France and Belgium along the way.

Twenty officers and staff from the force, as well as colleagues from Fife and Strathclyde, completed the 220-mile journey.

The cyclists made their journey from the Scottish Parliament to Paris via Belgium - using the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry - in four days.

The group were seen off on September 25 by dignitaries including former Lothian and Borders Chief Constable Paddy Tomkins. Andy Kerr MSP joined them on the first leg of the trip to Dunfermline.

Mr Prentice added: "I had been given a brochure for a London to Paris cycle ride, and I thought, why not go from Scotland instead? I thought we should support Malawi, since it's a charity which is being promoted by the Scottish Executive.

"There's always been a very strong relationship between Scotland and France, so it seemed an appropriate thing to do. It was at quite short notice, but there was a very enthusiastic response. I hadn't done much cycling before, but we had two training weekends to prepare for it."