A BUS driver is about to embark on his next journey to help his beloved church and local community with a coast-to-coast walk over seven days and 100 miles.

Alan Beck, 63, who was born only yards away from Holy Trinity Church in South Hetton, will be setting off on the epic journey on Sunday, August 20, from Bowness-on-Solway to help raise funds for the damaged church roof.

Mr Beck, from Washington, who has worked at the Stagecoach depot in Sunderland for the past 37 years, has planned his own route and accommodation for the week-long trek, finishing in Seaburn on Sunday August 26 where his family will meet him.

He then plans to recover for one day and then walk from Seaburn to his much loved church in South Hetton, joined by his family and friends as he walks through the villages for his final collection.

The roof at Holy Trinity Church is in desperate need of repair due to extremely bad weather, so £50,000 must be found for restoration work and long term repairs.

Over £14,000 has been raised so far, with Mr Beck contributing £9,000 when he completed did a tandem parachute jump in October 2015.