The journey began at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

Two brothers have started the first leg of a 474-mile bike ride in memory of their father who died from cancer.

Huw Vaughan Jones and his brother Richard have taken on the challenge to cycle the coast of Wales to raise money for research into the disease.

They will be joined by a friend, John Ledger, who will cycle alongside them and one of their sister's, Bethan, who will drive the support car.

"We wanted to do something to help raise money to aid those suffering from this dreadful disease," said Huw Vaughan Jones, 47, who was brought up in Mold but now lives in Oxford.

"My father, Goronwy, had stomach cancer and we had a lot of help from the Macmillan nurses when he was ill.

It is a way of helping me to deal with the situation Huw Vaughan Jones

"So we thought why don't we do a sponsored ride around the coast of Wales as a tribute to him.

"We are hoping to raise about �4,000 which we are going to split between the Macmillan Nurses and the North west Cancer research branch in Mold, which is where we are from.

"It is also a way of helping me to deal with the situation," he said.

Six days

The trio of cyclists began their epic journey at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and will cycle around the coastline, taking in Mumbles in Swansea, before reaching the end of their first leg in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

Over the next six days they will travel from Kidwelly to St Davids in Pembrokeshire, then up to Aberystwyth, Caernarfon, Anglesey, Bangor and ending their trip in Mold.

"I have been training for the trip for a few months now," said Mr Vaughan Jones.

"I've been doing trips of about 30 miles at the weekend so I feel ready for it.

"The only thing I am hoping is that the weather won't be too bad for us, and that we aren't fighting the wind.

"But I can't say I am looking forward to doing the hills much either," he added.