Mick Atkin, of Edgehill Road, who has been a driver with Scarborough Dial a Ride for 15 years, is hoping to raise £1,000 for the organisation by embarking on a 3,800-mile rail journey.

He aims to spell out the charity's name using the first letter of every station he stops at during the trip.

The 44-year-old has taken a week's holiday and, with tickets donated by First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail, he plans to cover the mammoth route in seven days.

Dial a Ride manager Julie Banks said that Mr Atkin was looking forward to the challenge and had already raised around £300.

She said: "He is really enthusiastic about it and it's a great way of publicising what we do.

"It costs £1,000 to provide bus fuel for around three months, so every penny raised will have a real impact."

Mrs Banks added that on some days Mr Atkin will be on the go for 12 or 13 hours, as he plans to come back to Scarborough each night.

He will be emailing regular updates and photographs to the Evening News as he makes his way along the route.

* If you would like to sponsor Mr Atkin's train challenge please call Dial a Ride on (01723) 354434.