WHEN Neville Dewson decides to get on his bike and take a hike, he goes all the way.

All the way around Britain, that is, because the care worker is about to set off on a 4,300 mile Bike'n'Hike charity fundraising tour that will take him the best part of eight months to complete.

The marathon runner and long-distance cyclist is hoping to live up to his nickname of Nifty Nev as he pedals and walks around the coastline to raise money for the Primrose Hospice.

"It's a lifetime's ambition," said Neville, who celebrates his 63rd birthday just before he sets off from Bromsgrove on Saturday.

"I'm totally excited about it. I just don't know what's going to happen until I get out there."

Neville is used to taking a chance - he swapped careers at the age of 50 from engineer to care worker and now his employers at social services value him so highly they've given him eight months off work.

"I was going to do this when I retire," said Neville, who has run the London Marathon six times and counts cycling from Land's Ends to John O'Groats among his long-distance trips.

"But they didn't want me to leave the team, so they gave me the time off and I'm very grateful. It's unpaid, though, so financially I'm going to struggle."

Neville reckons the cost will be up to £5,000 and he's trying to keep his expenses down to make more money for charity by carrying a tent and camping. He's also organising nights in youth hostels, staying with friends or relatives or anyone at all who lives on the coast and can offer him an overnight place to stay.

The official launch in the grounds of Bromsgrove Methodist Church on Saturday will feature a balloon race and a bacon buttie bonanza. From there, Neville, of Segbourne Road, Rubery, will be travelling with wife Dawn to set off from Llandudno.

"My daughter Catherine lives near there with our granddaughter Hope, who's nearly two," said Neville. "My son Dave and his wife Karen, who live in Worcester, are expecting their first child in July, so I'm going to have to take a break and catch the train back from wherever I am to see our second grandchild."

Dawn will be with him for the first week and then she'll be joining him for a couple of days here and there. Otherwise, Nev's on his own as he heads north, taking in the Scottish highlands and islands on his bike before heading down the east coast to Great Yarmouth. There - after about 2,200 miles in the saddle - he'll be storing his bike and putting on his hiking boots.

"I'll be carrying a lot of equipment so I'm aiming at around fifty to sixty miles a day on the bike and between 15 and 20 on foot," he said. "I'm hoping to finish sometime in October."

Neville is still looking for large scale Ordnance Survey maps of the coast and other places he might be able to stay. He also wants sponsors - anyone who can help in any way should call the Primrose Hospice on 01527 875444. His progress will also be regularly updated and can be seen online at www.niftynev.co.uk