A RETIRED insurance broker will follow the country's best-known river from its source to the sea on a sponsored walk in aid of a national charity.

Ian Thomson, of St Edmund's Green, Sedgefield, plans to complete the 184-mile trek along the River Thames in nine days.

The 63-year-old will set off from Cirencester, in the Cotswolds, on Saturday morning and walk through Oxford, Reading and Windsor before finishing at the Thames Barrier in London.

Mr Thomson is well on track to raising £1,500 in sponsorship for The Anthony Nolan Trust if he completes the challenge.

Mr Thomson, who is married to Elaine and has two sons and a grandson, said: "I enjoy long-distance walking as a hobby, so wanted to do the Thames Path anyway because it is a national route."

He added: "There are a few kids in the village with leukaemia, so there has been lots of work in Sedgefield to support the trust and similar charities, so I wanted to get involved and help."

Peter Finnigan, North-East area manager of The Anthony Nolan Trust, said: "The charity has been running for 31 years and now provides a vital bone marrow donor register.

"We rely completely on the efforts and generosity of people like Mr Thomson to raise the £15m we need every year, so are extremely grateful for his efforts."