A TEAM of cyclists riding the length of Britain to raise funds for meningitis victim Harley Slack has arrived at the hospital where he is being treated.

The five-man team was greeted by Harley's dad and cheered by other relatives of the courageous youngster at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

They are seven days - and 500 miles - into their journey, which started at John O' Groats. But there are still more than 400 miles to go before they reach Land's End.

Bedside

The cycle ride was organised several weeks ago when family friends in Brinnington learned doctors had removed all of four-year-old Harley's limbs - his legs below the knees and his arms below the elbows.

Since they started preparing for the bike ride, the appeal fund has raised more than £450,000 towards providing Harley with new limbs. Fundraisers now hope to raise £2m to provide regular changes of prosthetic limbs for Harley in the years ahead.

Harley had to be revived by doctors three times after he contracted meningitis and they were forced to amputate when he developed septicaemia.

He is now having regular physiotherapy and his parents, Samantha and Adam, have been at his bedside for weeks - although Samantha has had to remain at the family home in recent days after being struck by swine flu.

Support

This week, doctors said Harley had responded well to skin graft operations and they hope he will be out of a high dependency hospital unit soon.

His plastic surgeon, Peter Davenport, said: "Harley is doing very well. He is reaching the stage where he is going to get better."

The cycling team are Will Watkins, Liam Maxfield, Chris and Michael Hulbert and journalist Peter Devine, from the M.E.N's sister paper the Stockport Express, who first reported on Harley's plight.

The M.E.N. has joined forces with the Stockport Express in asking readers to support the family's appeal.

Fantastic

Harley's grandad Phil, who is providing support for the team along the way, said: "This has been an incredible ride by the team. It's about pulling together - these lads have been fantastic."

For information or to donate go to harleyslackfund.giving.officelive.com or send cheques to: Harley Slack Fund, c/o Mike Hulbert, 39 Nottingham Avenue, Brinnington SK5 8ET.

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