A PARTIALLY-sighted VSO volunteer braved the winter chill and took on the towpaths of Worcestershire and the West Midlands in his marathon charity challenge.

Mark Little, from St John's, Worcester, is taking part in an exchange programme organised by the World Youth Millennium Awards (WYMA) thanks to his hard fund-raising efforts to raise the £500 needed to take part.

The 23-year-old decided to generate his money through sponsorship of his 35-mile trek from Birmingham to Worcester.

The cash will enable him to take part in project work in Wales and Nigeria.

Although the electrical store worker was forced to abandon his gruelling challenge because of bad light he still managed an amazing 26 miles.

"I started off at 7.30 in the morning from Birmingham but it was really slow going because there was a sheet of ice down along nearly all of the canal pathway," he said.

"I tried to use my torch when it began to get dark but it was becoming far too dangerous and my legs were absolutely numb from the cold."

Mark was able to make it to Droitwich.

He will be setting off to Bangor, followed by the sunnier climes of Nigeria, on Friday.

He will be living with families in both regions, to carry out project work in deprived areas, including hospice work and work with the elderly.