A KEEN charity fundraiser with an impressive record of achievements under his belt has raised about £4,000 following a bus trip around the country on his pensioner’s bus pass.

Bob Waite, 66, of Blackhall Colliery, east Durham, who is raising cash for the transplant unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital Freeman, has thanked everyone who supported him.

The former chimney sweep has completed two parachute jumps, 30 Boxing Day dips, canoed down the North Sea coast, done a 60-mile cycle ride and organised village fun days for various causes.

Mr Waite travelled around the the perimeter of England as close to the coast as possible where public buses took him, along the borders of Wales/England and Scotland/England.

The trip of about 2,500 miles took him 24 days and involved catching 127 buses.

He said: “I was given quite a few donations on the way, including from bus drivers.

“People were very generous. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped.”

A final total will be calculated by May.