Hilmarton resident Barry Scott plans to cycle more than 150 miles around Wiltshire in aid of two armed forces charities between July 3 and 6.

Mr Scott, 68, served in the Royal Air Force from 1960 to 1975 and is a case worker for the armed forces charity SSAFA.

He plans to raise money for the charity, which provides support for anyone who is serving or has served in the forces, and Help for Heroes.

The last time he picked up a bicycle was at the age of 50, when he completed a 50-mile cycle ride, and he is training for the challenge at the Calne Leisure Centre.

Mr Scott has planned his route so he can meet members of the 21st Signal Regiment, based at Colerne, who will be holding a fundraising collection in Royal Wootton Bassett and Calne on Saturday, July 6.

He said: “I just felt while I’m fit and able I want to put something back into those charities that help so many people.

“At SSAFA we help young men from the age of 18 to elderly people in their 90s. If you go down to Tedworth House there’s a SSAFA worker on site. We are working to help our servicemen and women.”

To donate to Mr Scott’s fundraising campaign send a cheque, made out to either Help for Heroes or SSAFA, to the SSAFA divisional secretary at 16 Hitherspring, Corsham, SN13 9UT. Cheques or letters should be labelled with the words ‘cycle ride around Wiltshire’.