Jane hopes to finish her marathon bike ride on Friday

The health of the Leeds mother-of-three deteriorated overnight on Tuesday and she struggled to start Wednesday's stage, her husband Mike said.

Mr Tomlinson said his wife's body was paying the price after nearly nine weeks of cycling across America.

He said they were under "no illusions" about the seriousness of her condition.

Speaking from Newark in Delaware as the 42-year-old headed towards Philadelphia, he said: "Jane's not very well at all.

"She was very poorly last night and it was very touch and go whether we would start today. I'm still not sure whether she'll finish today's stage. It's very disappointing, but there's not a lot we can do."

Her body's been under an enormous strain and she's just got nothing left to give Mike Tomlinson

Mr Tomlinson, 45, has been following his wife in a support vehicle with their nine-year-old son Steven.

He said his wife still hoped to finish in Battery Park on Friday morning but was not sure whether she would manage it.

He said: "I don't know where Jane's getting her resolve from to cycle today, I really don't.

"Her body's been under an enormous strain and she's just got nothing left to give.

"But she's been digging deeper than she's ever dug before so we're hoping for the best."