Two teenagers who cycled 180 miles to raise money for the Ben Kinsella Trust admitted it’s the hardest thing they have ever done.

Brodie Couzins and Euan Taylor-Reid, both 15-years-old, completed the three-day trip to Bristol and back last week – raising almost �1,300 pounds for the charity, which teaches youngsters about the dangers of carrying knives.

Ben Kinsella’s parents, Debbie and George, were at the Prince Edward pub, in Parkhurst Road, Holloway to greet the pair as they crossed the finishing line of the gruelling ride.

Ben was a pupil at Holloway School, like Brodie, when he was stabbed to death in 2008.

Brodie said: “It’s the hardest thing I have ever done in my whole life, not just physically but mentally as well.

“The adrenaline has gone now but my legs are still aching.”

Euan added: “We didn’t quite realise how far 180 miles was until we set off. We both underestimated it.

“It was tough, but I would definately do it again.

“It was really good of Ben’s parents to turn up, they didn’t have to. I have never met them before so it was nice. It was an emotional occasion.”

A tricky first leg saw the lads negotiate heavy motorway traffic, rain, freezing cold and mud, which left them short of their destination on the first night.

A canal boat owner let them leave the bikes on her boat overnight, but they had to make up for lost time and completed a 75-mile, eight-and-a-half hour slog the following day.

When they got back, Debbie Kinsella said: “It was wonderful of them and it was such a nice evening.

“We saw them coming down Camden Road and it was great. I found them inspiring actually and you could see the pride in their parent’s faces. They’re lovely boys.”

George Kinsella added: “While it was very sad for us to lose our son in the way that we did, this shows that some good has come out of it. Brodie and Euan proved that.”

Mr and Mrs Kinsella presented them with an award certificate in honour of their achievement.

n To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Brodie-Euan