A NATURE reserve worker is swapping the safety of a local park for the heady heights of Peru to raise money for charity.

Terry Douthwaite is set to pull on his walking boots to trek along the Salkantay Inca trail from September 24 to October 3 in aid of Butterwick Hospice.

The local nature reserve officer at Stockton Borough Council was inspired to raise funds for the charity after learning about the work it does and how it is funded.

He said: "I hadn't heard about them before I helped to plant some trees that the council had donated and I learnt that they were a charity that didnt receive any funding from the government.

"I decided that I wanted to raise money for Butterwick and thought the trek would be an ideal way of doing it."

The Hospice provides care and support for seriously ill people and their families.

Mr Douthwaite is also taking part in a charity skydive at the weekend and it taking part in the Great North Run to raise £3,000 for the hospice.

Anyone wanting to sponsor him should visit justgiving.com/terry-douthwaite