A TAXI driver is hoping to celebrate his millionth mile in the job by raising £10,000 for the Alzheimer's Society.

Paul Hutchinson has been a taxi driver for 23 years and operates under his one-man taxi business, Wolsingham Taxis.

Now in his 16th year in the rural town, it was while his car was in for its annual service that he realised he was close to the milestone.

And as his mother Nora Hutchinson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a couple of years ago, Mr Hutchinson decided he wanted to give something back to the charity which had helped him and his family so much.

Now with the help of friends and neighbours Betty Long, Michelle Davies, Jackie Richie and Mike Newton, Mr Hutchinson has launched the Million Miles for Money campaign.

The scheme aims to raise funds through community events such as pub nights, sponsored walks and even a variety show, before Mr Hutchinson hits his millionth mile - something he expects to achieve by August 2019.

"We are trying to put on as much as possible so people can join in. It started with all the pubs because I pick up from a lot of them and it just grew from there," Mr Hutchinson said. "We are just getting off the ground with it and it's coming together."

Mr Hutchinson is also putting himself to the test for the charity in June, by taking on a sponsored swim across Lake Windermere, in the Lake District.

As a self-confessed weak swimmer, Mr Hutchinson said the challenge will be difficult for him but he is determined to complete it with the support of a swim coach and his partner Gillian Rosemurgey.

Another challenge will include a volunteer who plans to cycle to work for a week and donate the petrol money he would have used and everything from casino nights to ballroom dancing.

Mr Hutchinson also hopes to put on a family fun day.

The 52-year-old said the charity was close to his heart following his mother's diagnosis.

"Mum has had it a couple of years and it was gradual so we did not notice it at first, we just put it down to old age but she got worse and worse," he said. "We got lots of information from the Alzheimer's Society and they're really good so we wanted to support them."

With the support of her family and the charity, the 83-year-old mum-of-four, still lives at home in Sunderland with her husband Terry Hutchinson, 85.

Mr Hutchinson said he was excited for the upcoming events and could not believe how well it had been received by the whole community.

He said: "I never thought it would get as big as it has but everyone seems to know someone with Alzheimer's and I suppose I'm quite well known too."

He added: "I love working up here. It's very different in the Dale than in the towns because I know everybody."

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