An 80-year-old man is looking to break the world record for the oldest person to walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Anthony Bishop was inspired to attempt the feat after reading a novel.

The trek, expected to last from September until the end of October, is the latest in a number of daring adventures by Anthony. He has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and completed more than 30 marathons and ultramarathons.

Anthony, who lives in Henfield, said: “My daughter and I also ran the Cape Odyssey over the mountains near Cape Town, running for five days at an average of a marathon a day.

“I don't listen to music or anything like that, that distracts me. I just carry on walking, enjoying the countryside. And I think a lot. I do lots of calculations in my head as I'm walking along.”


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Anthony decided to attempt the 874-mile journey after reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce.

The current record for the oldest person to complete the feat is 76.

The trek will also be fundraising for St Barnabas House in Worthing, a hospice care charity who looked after Anthony’s sister before she died.

Anthony will be raising money for the charity on his JustGiving page.