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BBC Children in Need's Rickshaw Challenge arrives in Ashford after cycling through Folkestone and Ashford

On their way to BBC's studios in Salford, the Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge team are expected to arrive in Kent very soon.

The group of teens and Matt Baker set off from from Calais this morning and are due to come through the tunnel before 2pm.

The BBC Rickshaw Challenge is one of the major fundraisers for Children in Need and has raised more than £21 million since it first took place in 2011.

The rickshaw challenge team (5258280)
The rickshaw challenge team (5258280)

Riders travel from Calais to the BBC's studios near Manchester, and will pedal 31 miles through Folkestone Eurotunnel's service tunnel.

The team will then travel through villages such as Etchinghill, East Brabourne and Brook, eventually arriving in Ashford in time for The One Show tonight.

In the coming days, it will then make its way across to east Sussex through Bethersden, Biddenden, Sissinghurst, Lamberhurst and south of Tunbridge Wells.

It will stop in Ashford tonight after the live TV link-up with Baker's co-presenter Alex Jones.

One Show hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones. Picture: BBC
One Show hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones. Picture: BBC

The riders are due to arrive at the Ashford town centre Bandstand between 7pm and 7.30pm.

Residents are invited to head into town for the chance to appear on live TV.

Pudsey Bear will be in Ashford town centre from around 6pm.

We'll be sharing live updates throughout the day.

Reporter Molly Mileham-Chappell is in Folkestone reporting live on their arrival

She will be reporting from Ashford town centre tonight as the team arrive at the Bandstand

7.30pm

That's a wrap!

7.25pm

The One Show's Matt Baker had an exclusive chat with our reporter Molly Mileham-Chappell after the event to tell us how their first day went.

He explains how they made up for a time delay of two and a half hours earlier in the day, and managed to arrive into Ashford with fifteen minutes to spare before the show began.

7.20pm after the live TV link to The One Show

7.10pm

6.55pm

6.53pm

6.40pm

6.29pm

6.15pm

5.40pm

5.25pm

4.57pm

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3.54pm

The team are already setting up in Ashford ready for tonight

3.50pm

The group will now make their way to Ashford via Etchinghill and Great Chart. Tonight's The One Show will be live from Ashford before they carry on their mission.

To support the Rickshaw Challenge, you can donate £5, £10 or £20 by text.

To donate £5 text the word TEAM to 70405. To donate £10 text TEAM to 70410. To donate £20 text the word TEAM to 70420.

Texts will cost your donation plus your standard network message charge. All of your donation will go to BBC Children in Need.

Rickshaw route (5258278)
Rickshaw route (5258278)

3.49pm

3.45pm

They're setting off again

3.24pm

The main man taking a well deserved rest

3.18pm

It'd be rude not to!

3.07pm

THEY'RE HERE!

2.43pm

The new ETA is 3pm and the Eurotunnel staff and BBC team are heading down to greet them.

2.15pm

Not long now!

The tunnel they are due to come out of soon (5321847)
The tunnel they are due to come out of soon (5321847)

2.11pm

2.01pm

They are about 20 minutes away from Folkestone

1.51pm

Fun fact:

1.42pm

This is the route they are taking today

Rickshaw route (5258278)
Rickshaw route (5258278)

1.39pm

To support the Rickshaw Challenge, you can donate £5, £10 or £20 by text.

To donate £5 text the word TEAM to 70405. To donate £10 text TEAM to 70410. To donate £20 text the word TEAM to 70420.

Texts will cost your donation plus your standard network message charge. All of your donation will go to BBC Children in Need.

1.37pm

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