A north Norfolk dad will wave goodbye to his home county this morning when he sets off on an epic charity challenge - to travel from Land's End to John O'Groats by bus.

Armed with only a back pack and plenty of small change, Mark Hammett is aiming to travel from his home town of Holt to the country's most westerly point, up to the northern wilds of Scotland and back down to Norfolk, all by public transport.

The 46-year-old is due to start the first leg of his 2,501 mile journey today by hopping on the 7.10am service from Holt to Fakenham.

His four-wheeled adventure, which will take 12 days to complete, has long been in the making but he has had to make some adjustments to his route, as he said some of the services he was hoping to catch have been scrapped due to budget cuts.

Speaking earlier this week he said: 'I have got to get an extra three buses because some of the routes were taken away, but apart from that it's all the same and I should beat the record (for completing the end to end route in the fastest time by bus) quite easily.'

Mr Hammett, a kitchen assistant at the Pepperpot restaurant in West Runton, said he was looking forward to his bus challenge but was keeping his fingers crossed that all his connections run on time.

And he is also packing plenty to keep him entertained on the 87 buses his will be taking.

'I'm going to do a daily diary and I'm taking some books to read and my wife gave me an iPod (music player) for my birthday so I'm taking that with me,' he added. 'And I'll be catching up on sleep as I've got mostly 6.30am starts.'

Throughout his travels Mr Hammett will be wearing specially printed t-shirts advertising his charity challenge and hopes fellow passengers will support his cause and boost his donation to North Norfolk Radio's Families First charity.

His is already set to smash his fundraising target of �1,000 but is keen to collect more along the way.

He said: 'Hopefully people will take notice of the t-shirts and come and give me something. I'm looking forward to getting there and getting home in one piece and on time and hopefully raising lots of money for charity.'

Mr Hammett also wished to thank his sponsors; Boyers Body Centre and Pellpax Target Sports Ltd in Cromer, Roy Boys cafe, Claws 'n' paws pet shop and Graphic Edge in Sheringham, the Pepperpot restaurant and the Albert fish bar and P and S Butchers in Holt.

? Anyone wishing to support Mr Hammett can sign sponsor forms in the Pepperpot, Albert's, Roy Boys, Claws 'n' Paws and Feeney's newsagents in Holt.