His daughter calls him a 'mad dad' and he is known by many for whizzing past on his electrically-assisted bicycle.

And for the second time, John Phillips, 71, from Shipdham, near Dereham, will be travelling 150 miles across Norfolk and Suffolk in his pedelec for the EACH Quidenham hospice.

He will start and finish his four-day challenge on Shipdham village green and will begin his journey tomorrow morning (Monday) at 9am.

John plans to cycle through Dereham, Wymondham, Bungay, Lowestoft, Southwold, Aldeburgh, Snape, Needham Market, Wickham Market, Stowmarket, Quidenham and Attleborough.

He hopes to raise �1,000 for the hospice - last year he raised �850 after pedalling from Hunstanton to Quidenham over three days.

John, a retired carpenter and classic car enthusiast, got the plans for his pedelec from America and it took him six months to finish the vehicle.

He said: 'Last year was the first time I'd done a bike ride for years. I hadn't ridden a bike since school. I avoided bicycles completely because I thought they were awful. This bike is a totally different experience.

'It is quite a relaxing thing when you start but it doesn't feel like that after a few hours.'

John will pedal most of the route but at the push of a button, a battery on the 21 gear bicycle will give him a boost.

There is also a custom-made cushion to make the journey more comfortable.

'I really enjoyed doing the cycle ride last year so I thought I'd try another one. I was very impressed with the facilities at EACH Quidenham hospice when I came to visit and all the staff were so friendly, I just couldn't do it for anyone else,' he added

John, who has two children and a grandson, has supported children's charities for several years and volunteered at a children's hospital in Russia 15 years ago.

Mark Loades, EACH Norfolk partnerships manager, said: 'John is such a dedicated EACH supporter and we can't thank him enough for his efforts.'

To donate, visit www.each.org.uk or call 01953 715559.