A BLIND church warden and his guide dog are preparing to embark on a sponsored journey, visiting as many cathedrals in the country as they can using only public transport.

Robin Millerchip, 67, of St Helen’s Church, Kelloe, County Durham, will set off from Durham Station on Monday, accompanied by Pickle – the only honorary church warden dog in the region.

The pair hope to visit up to 30 cathedrals in seven days. Mr Millerchip, said: "Pickle and I are we are looking for sponsorship by lump sum or number of cathedrals visited. Trains may be cancelled, so there is an element of risk.

“All proceeds will go to Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Durham Visually Impaired Group."

Mr Millerchip, of Coxhoe, said: “When I was admitted as a warden at a service at Durham Cathedral two years ago and Pickle was with me, of course.

“When I asked the then Bishop of Jarrow The Right Reverend Mark Bryant 'what about him? ',he replied: 'Well he can’t be a churchwarden'. when I said 'if he can’t go I can’t go' the bishop agreed to make Pickle honorary church warden.

"When I later met the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, he got down on all and fours to meet Pickle and said 'he's a gift from God'."

He added: “We have quite an amazing team at Kelloe. I am blind and the other church warden Diane Reed is registered as disabled, because she is severely dyslexic. So between the two of us reading and writing is a major challenge.

“Fortunately we have a brilliant team of helpers around us on the church council.”

Mr Millerchip, who has been sight-impaired since birth, lost his vision suddenly about eight years ago.

He said: “I got up one morning and couldn’t see out of my left eye. With groundbreaking treatment at Sunderland Eye Infirmary they’ve been able to stabilize the right eye, which has a tiny amount of vision.

“I’ve had Pickle for five years now now and since getting him my life has changed. Not only is my life completely in his paws but he is also my very best friend. He will be celebrating his sixth birthday, on St Patrick's day, while we are away."

Anyone who would like to sponsor Mr Millerchip can contact 0191-377 9855 robin.millerchip@gmail.com.