A round-Britain cyclist is passing through north Norfolk this weekend on a 5,000-mile journey he hopes will raise £15,000 for charity and be finished in time for his 40th birthday in December.

Welshman Malcolm 'Swanny' McCarthy pedalled through Cromer today, Friday, about 1,500 miles into his epic journey.

The artist, woodworker and gardener aims to raise cash for the Ty Hafan Hospice, Children with Leukaemia and Cancer Research UK through his epic trip, which started on March 3 and is due to end in time for his big birthday on December 3.

Preparations were hampered by a chest infection diagnosed early on in the trip which needed a trip to A and E, the discovery of old blood clots on his lung needing blood thinning medication, he said.

But he was pressing on, helped by being given a static home rather a tent pitching site by the Woodlands caravan park at Trimingham on Thursday night.

'It was nice to have a comfortable bed for a night,' said Mr McCarthy who is now on his way up the east coast via King's Lynn on his trailer-hauling cycle.

'If the hills in Scotland beat me I will accept it, but I am planning to treat myself to a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne at the finish.'

To follow his progress visit www.swantour.org.uk or his Swanny McCarthy Facebook page.