A DEVON County Show steward has completed a gruelling 200-mile bike ride to raise money for a new rural hub.

Deborah Custance Baker finished the three day challenge from Exeter to London, finishing at the House of Commons on Thursday last week.

So far, she has raised £1,185 to be put towards a new rural hub in Devon.

“Fortunately the weather was sunny all the way but cycling around London was quite scary,” she said.

“Now that I’ve finished I feel fine but I’ll be putting the bike away for the foreseeable future.”

She finished the distance on her trusty, second-hand bike despite falling off several times and losing her map.

She was met at House of Commons by MPs Neil Parish of Tiverton and Honiton, Hugo Swire and Ben Bradshaw.

Deborah is a Director of the Devon County Agricultural Association, the County Show’s chief steward of the Crafts and Gardens Pavilion and the Spring Sausage competition.

She also breeds and shows prize-winning large black pigs at the Devon County Show.

Deborah, 51, decided to kick-start the fund raising efforts to develop a little used building on the showground at Westpoint, Exeter.

“The Wadsworth Pavilion is a terrific building and full of character but sadly it can’t be used to its full potential because of the lack of essential facilities,” she said.

A £30,000 extension, to include a kitchen and loos, would create a rural hub for use by local schools, livestock breed societies and private hire. Deborah hopes her cycle ride will make the project eligible for grant funding.

“Most grant-awarding authorities are looking for the charity itself to put in some money so I decided to get on my bike and raise it,” she added.

To support Deborah’s fundraising effort, visit her Just Giving Page at www.justgiving.com/deborah-custance-baker.