AN asylum seeker who fled his native homeland in fear is saddling up to repay the community which has made him feel welcome.

Said Ahmed, along with friend Derek Roe, from Greenmount, is to cycle to Blackpool for charity next Saturday (July 10).

And the trip will be quite an adventure for Said, from Ethiopia, as he has never ridden a bike before.

Mr Roe's wife, Pauline, who is also the secretary of Bury African Outreach, said: "'Said has had to borrow a bike and has been in training for next week's cycle ride.

"But my husband has done this ride for a number of years and is very experienced. I will be following with the Mars Bars and bananas."

Said was forced to leave behind his wife and two young children in 2003 after being arrested and tortured by the country's security forces for his political beliefs. He has since settled in Woolfold and is waiting to hear whether his asylum application has been successful.

Since arriving in the country, Said has been determined to pay back the community which has welcomed him by working as a volunteer at the Bury Oxfam Shop and the Asian Development Association of Bury where he is a project officer. Said is also training to become a volunteer advisor for the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Mrs Roe said: "The present law means that Said is not allowed to take on paid work, and this is his way of being of help to the community he lives in.

"So far, both my husband and Said have done very well for sponsorship to raise money for Bury Hospice, Diabetes UK, the charity set up by Simon Weston called Weston Spirit, and Christie Hospital."

Anybody wishing to sponsor the pair should write to the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, 1 Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester M8 4QS marking the envelope for the attention of Said Ahmed and Derek Roe.