VET Richard Chamings will be lacing up his hiking boots this morning (Friday) and stepping out on the first leg of a 100-mile trek across the wild Devon countryside.

Mr Chamings is tackling the challenge to raise money for Hounds for Heroes, a charity which trains assistance dogs for disabled military and emergency service personnel.

He said: "I'm originally from Devon, and the Two Moors Way across Dartmoor and Exmoor is a walk I've always wanted to do. I'm starting out in Ivybridge, and covering about 20 miles a day, I'll finish up in Lynton after five days."

Mr Chamings practices at White House Vets, Newtown Road, Malvern, and colleagues there will be helping with the fundraising, with two of them running a half-marathon later in the year, and a dog show being held on the Link Common.

He said: "We've got close to £1,000 in sponsorship already, and we hope to raise about £4,000 in total.

"It costs about £10,000 to train an assistance dog, so we'll only be paying for about half a dog, but every bit helps, because it's a very good cause. I'm just hoping the weather is OK.

"I've got a close friend to accompany me , so I won't be short of company. It's always better to have company on a walk like this."

Anyone interested in sponsoring him can call in to the surgery or visit justgiving.com/whitehousepetclub.