A RETIRED army major has set sail in a homemade tin boat to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees.

Michael Stanley, known as Major Mick, is taking to the seas and rivers of southern England on his boat, dubbed Tintanic II.

On Friday, the 81-year-old set off from Chichester Yacht Club in Birdham for the first leg of his challenge on board the boat, which was decked out in Ukrainian flags.

Mr Stanley, who is based in Chichester, is hoping to collect £5,000 for Children on the Edge - a charity based in Moldova and Romania supporting refugees from the war in Ukraine.

The Argus: Michael Stanley, known as Major Mick Michael Stanley, known as Major Mick

He previously completed 100 miles rowing at 2mph twice a week along the Chichester Canal in December 2020, and a further 100 miles at 20 locations across the country.

Mr Stanley, who sold his original boat for £480 for charity, is using his second version, Tintanic II, for his latest fundraising bid.

“Having done the canals, I want to do something a bit more salty, a bit more edgy, so this year I am taking to the sea.

“I have a target of £5,000 because all of my friends have already given and perhaps people are a bit harder up than they were before.

“But anyway we are all having a lot of fun and it’s fun for me and I really enjoy talking to people when I’m out and about.”

Mr Stanley, who served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for 35 years, said the ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine has acted as his motivation to support refugees.

He added: “We have seen such terrible pictures on the television and people are in absolute dire straits and anything I can do to help in a very small way will go some way to helping.”

The veteran said he had an open target of about 50 miles for the challenge, depending on the weather.