A grandfather who is battling against cancer will embark on a gruelling motorbike ride across Britain to raise money for his favourite charity.

Nick Cranfield, 77, suffers from prostate cancer but is planning to ride 2,000 miles to raise money for the Heathfield-based Talking Newspaper Association UK (TNA UK).

Mr Cranfield has been reading for the charity for five years after a rare condition almost left him blind in one eye.

He said: "I was walking my dog one day when I suddenly had a strange sensation in one of my eyes. As I looked up, my vision was obscured by strange wavy green stripes and I knew something was wrong.

"When I went to the hospital I was told I had a torn retina and was operated on the very same day.

"The experience left me so grateful for my sight. It made me realise how incredibly brave people with reduced vision are."

Mr Cranfield, of Ashdown Forest in West Sussex, discovered he had cancer 18 months ago but was determined not to let it hold him back. Within weeks of being told, he bought a Kawasaki W650 motorbike.

He said: "I used to ride 50 years ago but gave it up when I had a family. But when I found out I had cancer I was determined to have a bit of fun and make the most of life. I had missed the bike and if nothing else, it was the excuse I needed to buy another one."

The ride will see Mr Cranfield travel from the TNA UK national recording centre in Heathfield to Lands End in Cornwall, before driving up to John O'Groats in Scotland.

Despite being on aggressive medication to treat his cancer, he has decided to ride completely alone without a support vehicle.

He said: "The side effects of my treatment are an inconvenience really. Sometimes I feel odd, perhaps a little dizzy and hot but it soon passes.

"No matter what I am doing, the fact I have cancer is always at the back of my mind. I realise I just have to get on with my life and make the most of everything I do.

"People may think I am crazy for doing this, but if they closed their eyes for just 10 minutes and thought about what it would feel like to be blind for life, may be they would begin to understand why."

TNA UK produces about 40,000 cassettes from 220 publications nationwide each week. Mr Cranfield spends about two or three days a week being recorded reading newspapers and magazines.

Publicity manager at TNAUK Justin King said: "This is undoubtedly a very daring challenge. Although Nick is taking care of his health, it is obviously a risk for him to undertake such a physical feat. We feel very humbled by his actions."

The ride will begin on Thursday, July 24 and is expected to take about two weeks.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Mr Cranfield or find out more about volunteering with TNAUK, should call 01435 866102.