A group of 15 cyclists, including nine members of the police have completed a 200 mile journey to the Netherlands in memory of a pivotal World War two battle.

Setting off on Wednesday, the team arrived in Arnhem at 10pm the following day in time for a memorial service on Friday to Operation Market Garden, where allied forces suffered extremely heavy losses in an attempt to end the war by capturing a strategically important bridge across the Rhine.

Croydon’s police officers laid a poppy wreath and then formed a Guard of Honour, saluting the war veterans from the Netherlands, Britain and Poland that had taken part in the operation in September 1944.

The group of cyclists included Croydon deputy borough commander, superintendent Rob Atkin and Sutton borough commander, chief superintendent Guy Ferguson and raised £4,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.