A man who used to cycle 25 miles to his university every day as a youth has set off from his Hedgerley home on a 1,000 mile bike ride to Marseilles - at the age of 63.

Rainer Struck, of Hedgerley Hill, Hedgerley, set off with his friend Laurence Kelly on the bike he was given by colleagues when he retired as deputy headteacher at the Mall school in Twickenham.

The Mall supports a charity called African Vision Malawi, which looks after a small school in that country.

Mr Struck personally supports a young student being educated in Malawi.

He will be raising money for the school there from sponsors through his mammoth ride to Marseilles.

His partner Vanessa Pilgerstorfer and chums from Burnham Beeches Rotary Club all gathered to see him off on Saturday.

Ms Pilgerstorfer said: "Rainer used to cycle from his home in Hannau the 25 miles to Frankfurt when he was at university.

"He always said that when he retired he retired he wanted to continue to have motivation in his life. He had not cycled for years until now.

"He is planning to cover 85k a day, stopping off in Paris on the first night.

"Rainer's son Christopher will meet him in Marseilles when he arrives and I am going down - but I'll be going by Eurostar."

Anyone interested in supporting Mr Struck can visit www.follow-rainer.com