A quartet of Newcastle United faces indulged in some pedal power on Thursday morning as they lent their support to Pedal for Petrov.

Manager Alan Pardew, striker Shola Ameobi and defenders Steven Taylor and Mike Williamson were on hand at the Sports Direct Arena to welcome a stop-off on the fundraising bike ride from Celtic's Parkhead ground to Villa Park, in Birmingham.

The Pedal for Petrov challenge is raising money Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, after Aston Villa captain Stilyian Petrov was diagnosed with leukaemia in March.

United's stars joined Villa masseurs Alex Butler and Andy Smith, as well as former England international midfielder Geoff Thomas, on a lap of the pitch before they set off on the second day of their gruelling ride.

Off his bike, but behind the lens, was Club Photographer Ian Horrocks, who has created this gallery of images from the Tyneside time-out.

To read a full account of the Pedal for Petrov challenge, click here.