A south Bucks man will cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise money for an aviation charity.

Paul Cissell, 46, from Farnham Common, is planning to cycle the 980-mile route in 12 days from June 14 to 26 for Flying Starts, a British Airways and Comic Relief charity partnership to help disadvantaged children.

His wife Emma, the father-of-two, who is a flight operations engineer at the airline, wanted to get fit after receiving a less-than-satisfactory rating at a work health fair.

Mrs Cissell, 44, said: “The younger guys at his office had far better figures than him so he decided to do something about it and set himself a challenge to lose weight.”

Mr Cissell has lost around 12 kg in the last year and now cycles 25 miles three days a week and up to 80 miles at the weekends. He will need to cycle at least 80 miles a day to achieve the 980-mile distance in June.

He said: “I have been very seriously contemplating doing the charity cycle ride for quite some time.

“I have never done anything like this before or attempted to raise a considerable sum of money for charity.

“This challenge offers me an ideal opportunity to help to raise funds for Comic Relief through the British Airways Flying Start campaign and help do my bit to help support lasting change for children living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world.”

Mrs Cissell said the couple’s daughters Abby, 11 and Stephanie, eight, were the first to sponsor him, adding: “We are very, very proud of him. He’s doing such a great job.”

Flying starts aims to help children living difficult lives in the UK and around the world by giving them access to education, giving young carers a break from looking after sick family members and vaccinating babies and children against deadly viruses.

Mr Cissell has raised almost 60 per cent of his £3,000 target. To sponsor him, go to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lejogflyingstartpjc1.