An Exmouth woman is celebrating afetr completing her ‘iron maiden’ charity challenge.

Ellen Yeates, 36, set out to cycle 1,000 miles through France to Nice, before completing an Ironman triathlon - a 2.4-mile sea swim, a 112-mile alpine cycle ride and a marathon.

Not only did Ellen complete her challenge, finishing the Ironman in 15 hours and 15 minutes, but she ended up going further than she planned as a navigation error saw her cycle route extended to 1,100 miles.

Ellen, a lawyer who lives in Maer Lane, took on the challenge to raise money for HASAG, a support group for asbestos-related cancer sufferers, after her step-mother Sandra was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Ellen’s dad Roger, and Sandra, supported Ellen first hand, following her through France in their campervan.

Ellen said: “I didn’t do the Ironman in the best time I could have, but it was probably the hottest day of the year and lots of people didn’t even finish. I ended up cycling part of the Tour de France route as well, so I’ve been watching it on the television going ‘I’ve been there!’”

So far Ellen has raised �1,300 for HASAG, but she is hoping to increase this total to �2,000 with a fundraising barbecue and further donations. To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/BigFrenchCycle.