RETIRING RAF warrant officer Al Sylvester will march through Warrington later this year in memory of his friend and colleague, Dean Singleton, who died of cancer aged 43.

The gruelling 900 mile trek will also mark the end of Al’s career in the Royal Air Force when he walks from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Al, from Shrivenham, will pass through Warrington on September 27 after setting off on the challenge on August 16.

He said: “Walking through Warrington will give me a good opportunity to see a small part of this lovely town and I’ll hopefully get some support from the local people along the way.

“I won’t be the first person to walk the full length of this wonderful island, and I’m sure there will be others who will be attempting the walk this summer, but what’s different about my challenge is that I will be completely unaided.

“So I won’t be afforded the luxury of sleeping in a comfortable bed or have the extravagance of electricity and hot showers each night – instead I will be sourcing my food en route and setting up my camp at the end of each day, and cooking my meal on a stove.”

Al, who has served in the RAF for 31 years, hopes to raise £25,000 for Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, who cared for Dean in his final days, but is already on his way to reaching his target having raised almost £15,000.

To donate visit virginmoneygiving.com/AlSylvester.