A Pembrokeshire County Council officer has returned home after a gruelling biked ride in aid of Britain's wounded servicemen and women.

Alastair Birch, community focused schools co-ordinator, took part in the Band of Brothers Bike Ride for Help the Heroes charity last month.

Three-hundred cyclists from across Britain rode 400 miles in five days through the Normandy battlefields.

Among them were teams of wounded servicemen and women from Headley Court - the rehabilitation centre for Britain's wounded servicemen and women.

"It was incredibly challenging and very, very tiring," said Alastair, 43, on his return home.

"But it was nothing compared to what our servicemen and women are facing in current conflicts," he said.

"I met some amazing people and was very humbled by their efforts - especially the wounded servicemen and women, many of whom cycled the whole way.

"I also met the daughter of Violet Tzabo, who won the George Cross and Croix de Guere for her heroism as a member of the Special Operations Executive in World War II, while meeting some of the wartime veterans was akin to meeting Churchill!"

The Band of Brothers Ride, which also commemorated the Allies' liberation of Europe 65 years ago, started in Portsmouth on May 24.

After crossing the Channel to Cherbourg, the riders pedalled around 70/80 miles a day, visiting all the Normandy beaches, including Omaha and Arromanches, before laying a wreath at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Alastair, who is a keen cyclist, said he had done smaller charity rides in the past, but had been keen to take on a bigger challenge.

"Several of my family were in the services and I wanted to honour them, as well as help our current servicemen and women," he said.

Help for Heroes raises money for servicemen and women injured in conflicts around the world. Since it was launched in 2007 it has raised £1m a month.

Alastair is still taking sponsorsship for his ride.