A 13-YEAR-OLD schoolboy staged his own Tour de France when he cycled to his family holiday home for charity.

Ben Davies decided to ditch the car and brave the Gallic summer heat on the annual trip to his family's French home in Vallouise, near Grenoble.

The St Anne's School year nine pupil covered more than 700 kilometres when he cycled from coast-town Dieppe to Vallouise in ten days.

Accompanied by his father in the morning and his mother in the afternoon, the school boy clocked up more than 90 kilometres on his longest day in the saddle.

His mum, Kate Davies, said: "It was a fairly long way for him to ride.

We took the car as back-up because we have a dog, and myself and my husband took turns cycling."

It was Ben's idea to do the ride for charity.

He chose Hope and Homes for children - an organisation which places homeless and orphaned children in family-unit style accommodation - because his school has previously raised funds for the charity.

Fell runner Ben took it all in his stride, covering the distance without complaint.

Mrs Davies said: "The only time we were not on the bikes was through major cities such as Rouen.

I think he did marvellously.

He never complained, he never even said he was tired.

It didn't seem to take a lot of getting used to for him, he is always full of beans."

Ben, who completed the arduous journey on his trusty blue mountain bike, said: "It was a really good experience.

Cycling in the north got a bit monotonous, it was one cornfield after another but once we got to the mountains in the south, things got a lot more interesting.

It was a memorable trip."

The only family member who seemed put out by the decision to reach France by pedal power was Muffin the dog, who had to look on from the side lines.

So far Ben has raised £1,200 for charity but he is hoping to top up the fund before it is sent on to Hope and Homes.

To make a donation to Ben, contact Anorak in Ambleside on 015394-32235.