A woman is is aiming to become the fastest female to cycle around the world.

Helen Langridge, who was born and bred in Deal, aims to do this in 110 days, when the current record time is 124 days and 10 hours.

She will leave Brussels on May 31 and go 18,000 miles east, solo and unsupported.

The trip is to raise the issue of mental health as she has had problems there herself.

Mrs Langridge wrote on her GoFundMe page: I want to show people that ill mental health doesn't mean you can't achieve great things.

"I want to inspire kids who are perhaps like I was - a little lost without confidence in their capabilities.

"I also want to push my limits and see how fast and far I can go."

Mrs Langridge, 30, has already been around the world once on a 17-month bike tour with her husband Mike.

She had met him on the Tinder dating app 15 months earlier, in 2016.

They raised money for Mind, the mental health charity, as both have been battling depression and anxiety since their teens.

During Christmas 2015 Mrs Langridge was in a deep depression and struggled to even get out of bed.

But, she explains, having since cycled through blistering 48C temperatures, strong headwinds and mountian passes, she is now prepared for anything.

Mr Langridge, who now lives in Edinburgh, said: "Being focused and motivated to get on the bike each day to train has really helped keep my mind balanced.

"Working with the team behind me is essential to breaking this record and I feel very well equipped for all of the ups and downs ahead of me.”

Mrs Langridge will be alone on her marathon trek but is being supported at home by a coach and a sports psychologist.

Her trip will take her initially to China via Germany and Russia.

From Beijing she will fly to Perth, cross Australia and fly to New Zealand.

She will also cycle through both the country's islands and then fly to Alaska and go on the road to the east coast of Canada.

The last leg of the trip is from Lisbon and back to Brussels.

Mrs Langridge has a £14,000 target for sponsorship for her trip.

You can help her through her crowdfunding page gofundme.com/f/cycling-world-record-2020

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