A keen cyclist will pedal more than 2,000 miles in a mammoth endurance test to raise money for people living in poverty in Madagascar.

Steven Moatt, from Portland, is taking on the Tour Divide mountain bike race in aid of SEED Madagascar, a small charity which manages sustainable projects in the south-east of the country.

The event will see racers set off from Banff, Canada, on June 14 and travel 2,745 miles along the continental divide to Antelope Wells on the Mexican border.

Steven, 49, was inspired to take on the challenge after cycling around Madagascar with a friend 30 years ago, and he says he now wants to give something back.

He said: "It was a very magical experience, I have always felt debt and gratitude and a bit of guilt because they are very poor. I'm in a position now to do something."

Steven, who owns a company on Portland, said: "If any small jobs come in I don't charge for them, I ask them to donate to the charity. So far I have raised about £3,000.

"SEED Madagascar have lots of projects, it's all about sustainable living. One of the things I'm really on board with is the building of new schools. It takes £30,000 to build a new school and I'm hoping to raise £15,000. A school is not just a school, it's a community hub and they have to provide safe drinking and sanitary conditions.

"The people are just so friendly and generous, and they deserve more."

Steven is preparing for the huge event by cycling as much as he can around running his own business.

He said: "I'm cycling this weekend and I cycle in the evenings. As it gets closer I will have to ramp it up.

"It's the longest off-road mountain bike race in the world - 80 per cent of it is off road. You have to support yourself with food and accommodation and you look after yourself.

"The quickest it's been done is just under 14 days. My goal is to do it somewhere between 16 and 20 days, but just completing it is a success."

Steven estimates that his mileage each day will be between 130 and 160 miles, and through all weathers.

He continued: "The weather at the start can be rain, sleet and snow, and then a couple of weeks later in the south you have 45 degrees. A lot of people ask why I'm doing it - it's for the challenge. For every tough thing you do, you improve yourself as a person."

Sven Cycles, based in Wyke Regis, have kindly donated Steven a bicycle for the event.

Find out more and donate at madagascar.charitycheckout.co.uk/pf/Steven-Moatt