Dozens of cyclists paid a last farewell to their peer when they took part a funeral procession in his honour.

Dressed in club colours of yellow and blue, more than 50 cyclists from Kingston Phoenix Road Club rode in tribute to Pete Mitchell, who died in his sleep on Tuesday, September 15.

The 76-year-old had been an active part of the club for more than 50 years and its members and his family felt one last ride with him to Randalls Park, in Leatherhead, would be fitting.

Mr Mitchell’s daughter, Jackie Dodd, said: “Dad was such a keen cyclist and rode his bike every single day of his life. He never owned a car and was just an avid cyclist. This is just him, it’s what he would have wanted.

“We chose these locations because they are rural and peaceful and want dad to have one last club run.

“He also will be in club colours following behind. I like to think that he would have enjoyed the celebrations after at Horton Golf Club and would love to hear all the nice memories people have.”

Two of Mr Mitchell’s grandchildren sported the club colours and rode out with the Kingston Phoenixes for the first time in memory of their grandfather.

Mrs Dodd, 49, and her brother Simon, 47, are members of the Kingston Phoenix Road Club and recall fond memories cycling with their dad.

Mrs Dodd said: “He always cycled and when we were younger we did lots of cycling together with him. In the later years we did the same bike rides together and went off on lots of trips with him.

“He had a great personality and anyone new who came along for the ride he would talk to. He was a very friendly outgoing person and was very keen to get people involved. He was just very friendly and helped out so much in the club.”

Mr Mitchell was born in West Ewell where he lived all his life and worked as a book binder in Wimbledon.

His funeral was held at Randalls Park Crematorium in Leatherhead on Thursday, October 6.

A friend of Mr Mitchell, Betty Johnson, said: “He was the leading life in the Kingston Phoenix club. Every Sunday they used to do rides and he always led one of them.

“All the members were so shocked. Only recently a group of them went to France and cycled the Pyrenees. “He was a lovely chap, born and lived in West Ewell. He was very much a local man as well as cycling all over the place.

“We all loved him – he was a lovely chap with a great sense of humour.”