A WEYMOUTH man is joining forces with a 70s pop star to raise funds for a landmine clearance charity working in Cambodia.

Richard Anders, 46, is doing a sponsored cycle through the challenging Cambodian countryside with singer, Steve Harley, formerly of the group Cockney Rebel.

They will ride with 60 others to raise money for the land clearance charity, Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

Richard, who owns a children's day nursery in Weymouth with his wife Carole, heard about the charity and its work whilst listening to the radio.

He decided to sign up for the event after Steve Harley appealed to listeners to get off their settees and make a difference by joining him on the 550-kilometre sponsored bike ride.

Richard said: "MAG works to respond to the needs of people affected by conflict and in particular, to clear the legacy that so often remains - landmines, unexploded bombs and booby-traps.

"I want to give something back to society and hopefully I can by doing this bike ride."

Richard needs to raise at least £2500 in sponsorship for the trip in November, and has been training for the trip with a 10-mile bike ride every day. Steve Harley will be doing the whole ride on a specially adapted tandem due to his disabilities from having polio as a child.

The team's route includes the vibrant paddy fields, dense jungle, secluded villages and magnificent temples of Angkor Wat.

Richard said: "I am delighted to be supporting MAG, this is a real once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it's not going to be an easy 10 days - with the humidity and temperatures in the high 70s."

The charity formed part of the steering committee for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

MAG currently runs mine action programmes in Angola, northern Iraq, southern Sudan and Vietnam, as well as Cambodia.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Richard can send a cheque made payable to 'MAG' to Preston Day Nursery, The Old Rectory, 7 Sutton Road, Weymouth, DT3 6BX, or contact him directly on 07764 798844.