A lorry driver who has shed more than four stone to enable him to cycle hundreds of miles for charity is about to begin an epic ride to Austria to raise money for seriously ill children.

When he started his weight-loss effort in May last year, Nigel Morris, of Steeton, near Keighley, weighed 22 stone 9lb but is now down to just over 17 stone.

Self-employed Mr Morris, 46, of Halsteads Way, said: “It hasn’t been easy fitting in the training around work.”

He will be riding from Steeton to the small Austrian town of Vitis, where his youngest daughter lives – a distance of 1,600 miles – starting on Saturday.

The father-of-three will cycle in aid of the charity Rays of Sunshine, which arranges 'make a wish' treats for seriously ill children.

Mr Morris said: “I’ll be doing it with Craig Adams, an ex-Bradford Northern player.”

People can donate money at justgiving.com/uk2austria-cycleride.

He also has a Twitter account: @charitytruckers and a website at charitycy clingtrucker.co.uk.