A Tunbridge Wells man will take on a 54-mile bike ride in memory of his father and uncle who both died from heart attacks.

Paul Diamond initially signed up to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) London to Brighton Bike Ride in 2006 after the death of his relatives some years previously.

But while on a trip to the South Downs the 58-year-old suffered serious heart palpitations which resulted in him needing four stents.

He said: “For my second London to Brighton Bike Ride I’d been sponsored to pedal up the monstrous Ditchling Beacon without stopping.

"But instead of breathing a sigh of relief at the top, my chest began to feel tight and my heart felt like it was beating outside of my chest – my heart rate was 210 beats per minute.

“Although I successfully completed the ride, my health deteriorated. I saw my GP and was referred to a specialist, where they found several blocked arteries that required four stents to be fitted.

“On one hand, I wasn’t hugely surprised – my family history somewhat prepared me for having a similar attack.

"But I was sporty, healthy and didn’t fit the stereotypical person living with a heart condition. It dawned on me that cardiovascular disease really can affect anyone and anywhere."

“It was devastating to lose my father to the same condition as my uncle" - Paul Diamond

Not fit and well, Mr Diamond, of St Johns Road, is jumping back in the saddle for the BHF ride.

He said: “It was devastating to lose my father to the same condition as my uncle. It really opened my eyes to the impact heart disease has and since then I have really noticed a surge in vital research in to cardiovascular disease.

"This is largely due to the dedication of charities like the BHF. It’s for this reason that I’m signing up to do the ride this year.

"It is a chance to give back to a charity that supports the millions living with heart conditions like me and saves the many more through life saving research."

Mr Diamond will take part in the ride on Sunday, June 19.

The 54 mile cycle from city to sea attracts around 25,000 BHF supporters each year and is Europe’s oldest and largest charity bike ride.

In the last 41 years, participants have pedalled more than 40 million miles between them, raising over £57 million for the BHF’s research.

For more information visit www.bhf.org/L2B