A surgeon and lecturer is taking on one of Britain's most challenging bike rides to raise up to £10,000 for a charity which supports people with taste and smell disorders.

Carl Philpott, consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at the James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth and professor of rhinology and olfactology at Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia (UEA), will cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats in the annual Deloitte Ride Across Britain from September 9 to 17.

Mr Philpott - who is director of the UK's first smell and taste clinic, based at Gorleston's James Paget University Hospital said: 'About 5pc of the population suffers from an olfactory disorder.

'This has a huge impact on their lives and I see many patients suffering from devastating effects, ranging from social isolation to depression.

'So I wanted to draw attention to this cruel condition.'

Mr Philpott's clinic, which opened in 2010, has already seen more than 500 patients and previously had to close referral lists because demand was so high for its services.

Now, he hopes to raise money for Fifth Sense, a patient-led charity he helped to establish and for which he is a trustee.

And already the total has reached nearly £4,000.

Fifth Sense was founded by Duncan Boak after he lost his own senses of taste and smell following an accident.

'Smell and taste disorders can have a significant impact on quality of life,' he said.

'Imagine not being able to taste your favourite food or enjoy all the smells that are part of a summer holiday such as the sea air.

'Smell makes up a huge part of our emotional experiences and memories in ways that we all too often fail to appreciate.'

Mr Philpott added: 'I've never undertaken a bike ride like this before.

'The event covers 969 miles over nine days so I'll have to complete around 110 miles by 6pm each day.

'As part of my training I've taken part in the Norwich 100 cycling event, been to the Peak District, Cheddar Gorge and the Malverns and completed regular long-distance rides.'

• To sponsor Mr Philpott visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/carlphilpott1

• For more information on fifth Sense, visit www.fifthsense.org.uk or email info@fifthsense.org.uk