A wooden cross and a poppy will be laid at each memorial

Eric Howden, 60, from the Redcar and Cleveland branch of the Royal British Legion, was taking part in a sponsored bike ride on Saturday.

He was to cycle to all 23 cenotaphs and war memorials in east Cleveland - a 60-mile trip in total.

The money will go to the local branch of the Normandy Veterans Association.

'Fought for us'

It will help pay for the veterans' trip to France for the anniversary on 6 June.

Mr Howden said: "At each location, myself and the Normandy veterans will be laying a small wooden cross with a poppy on it to record that we have been to each of the war memorials."

He said he wanted to mark the importance of the D-Day landings.

The D-Day landings were a turning point in World War II

"This was the allied forces getting back into Europe and recovering the land we had lost to the Germans.

"It is 60 years, I have just reached the age of 60, and I want to raise �600 to help them on their way so they can enjoy themselves.

"They fought for us why can't we do something for them?"

He added: "I have told everybody if I am a little bit late don't worry about it - I have probably been done for speeding or collapsed en route."