FITNESS FANS dug deep for charity when they went head to head on exercise bikes at the Talbot hotel.

Members of the leisure centre took to their spinning bikes for two-and-a-half-hours and raised ¤940 for the Carlow wheelchair branch and they presented a cheque to the branch at the gym on Saturday.

The morning group from the spinning class battled it out for a fitness title against the evening group when they had their heart rates monitored following the two hour spin off.

'The groups wanted a challenge so they came up with this fundraiser,' said one of the organisers John Byrne. 'The morning group won in the end after their heart rates were recorded and they were declared the fittest.' John has been involved with the Carlow wheelchair Association since 1980 through his brother.

'It is great to be involved in something like this and I want to thank everyone for taking part.'