After battling with torrential downpours and cycling through the night a charity fundraiser has completed a 112-mile trike ride – and is a step closer to reaching his £5,000 target.

Former councillor Jon Hardy completed his marathon journey from Bristol to Brentford in 20 hours and 25 minutes in a bid to help the Tropical Zoo, in Syon Park.

But the 52-year-old admits it was not all plain sailing.

He said: “There was a moment around about Marlborough, which was about seven hours into the ride.

“I had been drenched by rain at 5am. I was cold, I was tired, I was wet. I knew I had the early stages of hypothermia.

“I took a slightly longer pit stop than intended. The rest was better.

“When you have forgotten the immediate pain you start to think ‘could I have done that better?’”.

Mr Hardy, of Amhurst Gardens, Isleworth, has so far raised £2,000 towards his £5,000 target.

He said: “This is obviously not going to be the way to raise the full £350,000 the zoo needs. But it is a way of making people aware of the situation because a lot of people weren’t.

“We have a few ideas which we think will bring in a lot of support.”

The zoo faces an uncertain future after hearing it would be closed to make room for a luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Hounslow Council found an alternative site next to Hounslow Urban Farm, in Feltham, but the zoo still needs about £350,000 to afford the move.

Last year Mr Hardy scuba-dived in the Tropical Zoo’s piranha tank to raise awareness of its plight. To support Mr Hardy, visit justgiving.com/jon-hardy.