TWO South Devon lads are taking part in their own Tour de France and raising money for Pakistan flood victims.

Matt Ireland and Jake Turbett, 23 and from Buckfastleigh, are cycling from Roscoff, through France on down to the south coast and up into Italy, ending in Genoa, to raise money for ShelterBox.

The intrepid explorers will spend about three weeks cycling 1,100 miles.

Matt and Jake said the challenge is to complete the full distance, in good time and in high spirits.

"We will be trying to survive along the way with whatever equipment we can carry on the bikes, a few euros for food and an extremely limited knowledge of either the French or Italian languages," they said.

"With not a lot of tour cycling experience between us, the two weeks of training have been rigorous, Matt having once cycled down the hill from a mate's house and Jake having spent at least an hour in total on the spin bike at work between appointments.

The pair added: "To help give us a boost during those long days in the saddle when we're sick of the constant muscular pain and even sicker of each other's company, we would like to add an extra purpose to the ride.

"That is why we are asking people to donate a small amount to this extremely worthwhile cause.

"It would be helping out these people who really are in desperate need and therefore helping us to keep on going."

Matt's mum, Helen, said: "Despite Matt's legendary skills as a mountain biker, neither have ridden a fully loaded bike. Jake has allegedly never been camping. They have hardly a word of French between them and their map only reaches as far as south Brittany, so a steep learning curve lies ahead."

The pair met as youngsters at a bus stop and have been best mates through Buckfastleigh Primary School, South Dartmoor Community College, college, work, travel and setting up in business.

Matt set up an architectural services company, Deanburn Designs, with his brother, and Jake trained as a personal trainer and has a string of clients in London wishing him a speedy return.

Both the lads will be going back to full-time study in September — Matt studying architectural technology at Brighton University and Jake reading sports science at the University of East London.

The trip was the brain-child of Virginia Turbett, Jake's mum, who raised £700 for after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004. Helen was part of the team in Scorriton that raised £10,000 for Haiti in March.

If you would like to donate log on to www.justgiving.com/mattandjakestourdefrance