POLICE Constable Steve Blackmore is set for a change to his normal beat by trekking for 18 days across Ethiopia.

PC Blackmore will be swapping the cold winter climes of Weymouth next week for the searing temperatures of the north east African country to collect cash for charity.

He will trek through Ethiopia and face gruelling terrain in a bid to raise money for the Children's Hospice Association of Scotland.

PC Blackmore, 33, of Putton Lane, Chickerell, is an officer based at Weymouth East Police Station and he will be one of four adventurous explorers taking part in the challenge of a lifetime.

He will be taking part in the trek with his friends Neil Pinney, Mike Laird, who took part in the BBC programme Castaway 2000, and Mr Laird's brother-in-law, Darin Strutt.

PC Blackmore has completed treks across the world in Israel, Jordan, Cambodia, Thailand and India, but he believes this hike will be his toughest yet.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to it but I think it is going to be a bit more rough and ready then anything I have done before, but it is for a worthwhile cause."

PC Blackmore, who has two children, said the trek will begin in a small village in East Ethiopia.

He added: "We have, however, been warned to be wary of the Afar tribe as they detest foreigners.

"According to our maps, the terrain should be quite challenging. There are mountains, volcanic rock and salt flats to conquer in temperatures averaging 50 degrees Centigrade. There will be no rain and no fresh water so all supplies will have to be carried by the group."

The team has been provided with £1,000 worth of vital equipment for the challenge by building firm George Wimpey, for which Mr Strutt works for in Edinburgh.

The company has recently built a new children's hospice near the Scottish capital.

PC Blackmore said the idea came from reading books by Wilbur Smith - in particular The Seventh Scroll, which mentions the Blue Nile and Timkat in Ethiopia.