The manager of a St Albans pub is preparing to cycle more than 300 miles to raise money for charity.

Emily Taylor, who runs The Mermaid pub in Hatfield Road, will be riding from Bedford to Brussels in August in aid of two charities.

The 22-year-old will be raising cash for Grove House Hospice and the Matt Foundation, a charity which helps people with serious disabilities arising from sport.

She said: "I’m really looking forward to seeing the different towns en route, but I am a bit nervous about the manpower behind the bike."

"It is a great local charity that helps a lot of people and touches the hearts of many in the area."

The four-day long trip will begin on August 21.

Ms Taylor hopes that her effort will raise more than £1,000 for the two charities.

In a bid to raise as much money as possible she is also running a raffle at the pub with a variety of donated prizes up for grabs.

The landlady said that the locals at her pub, which she has run since January 2012, have been very supportive of the challenge.

She added: "They've been fantastic and have all got behind me and have already been sponsoring me.

"Everyone is always asking how my training is going."

Clair Evans, events fundraiser for the Grove House Hospice, said: "We rely very heavily on the kind generosity of people like Emily to help us raise the £6.5 million need per year to fund our invaluable specialist nursing care."