A TEESSIDE university tutor is planning to trek nearly 90 miles across Iceland to raise £8,000 for cancer relief at the age of 62.

Eric Smalley will be strapping on his well-worn walking boots in July for the challenge.

A programme support tutor for graduate apprentices at the university's centre for lifelong learning, he is appealing for support from the public.

"Macmillan Cancer Relief provides an essential service for thousands of people throughout the UK," said Mr Smalley, who is the charity's Stockton branch secretary.

"The money raised on this trip will be used to provide specialist cancer care training for local nurses and doctors.

"I hope people will support me in this endeavour and we can raise enough money to help seriously ill people have a better quality of life."

One of his more unusual methods of raising money has been to send people tubes of Smarties, asking them to fill it with 20p pieces.

He said: "With a Smarties tube holding about £15 worth of 20p pieces, it has become a fun and effective fundraiser.

So far Mr Smalley has received more than £500, including a cheque for £200 from the children taking part in Meteor, a university scheme to encourage primary school children to consider higher education for the future.

A further £1,000 has been pledged by Meteor organisers.

A keen fell walker for more than 20 years, The trek is part of a wider scheme to raise £150,000 for the charity.

In the past two years, £250,000 has been raised from the Tees Valley area.

To sponsor Mr Smalley, call (01642) 801907.