THREE Huddersfield bikers have raised almost £12,000 for charity after riding 1,500 miles through Southern India.

Tim Batten, 52, of Hinchliffe Mill, Andrew Islip, 51, of Netherton, and former police inspector John Boothroyd, 61, of Honley, took part in the Enduro India 2005 motorcycle challenge.

They were among 100 riders who travelled on Royal Enfield Bullet 350cc motorcycles through mountains, jungles and desert.

The two-week rally in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu between February 23 and March 9 was a circular tour on some of the most difficult roads in the world, but through some of India's beautiful scenery.

Tim said: "It was a fantastic experience. The weather was extremely hot, but the scenery was stunning.

"It was amazing that in the face of extreme poverty, the people were very friendly and gave us a warm welcome wherever we went."

The rally, which has been held for the last three years, raises between £150,000 and £200,000 each year.

This year's event raised money for the Rainbow Trust, for families of young cancer sufferers, The Pain and Palliative Care Society, an Indian children's cancer charity, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, for tiger conservation work in India.

During the rally, the riders - ranging in age from 26 to 74 - visited a hospital in Calicut, which is one of the main beneficiaries of the charitable donations.

It also visited wildlife reserves which focus their work on tiger conservation.

Enfield Bullet 350cc motorcycles are still made in India to the same design as those made and sold in the UK in the 1950s.

More information about Enduro India 2006 can be found on the internet at www.enduroindia.com