A couple from Finchley will travel the length of Great Britain for free using their pensioners' bus passes to raise money for charity.

Michael and Hillary Lewis will journey the 497 miles from Land's End to Dumfries over seven days in August using only public buses.

The couple, of Lyndhurst Gardens, decided to make the trip following the launch of the national bus pass scheme on April 1 this year.

Mr Lewis, 65, a financial advisor, said: "When the bus pass scheme was announced I thought I'd give it a go, then my wife decided to come. Then we thought we might as well do it for charity."

The journey will see the pair travel from Land's End to Penzance, Exeter to Gloucester, then Stafford, Manchester and Carlisle, before completing their travels in Dumfries. Along the way they expect to take up to six buses a day and will stay in hotels each night.

Mr Lewis said: "Life is about going out and doing things. People think you are over the hill when you get to a certain age but it isn't a question of can't if you think you can do it."

They hope to raise £5,000 for Save the Children and The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI), as Mr Lewis is Master of Tamesis Freemasons Lodge in Windsor.

But Mr Lewis is realistic about his plans. He said: "I don't expect it to run smoothly - it's public transport, isn't it? I only hope we don't get stuck for ages in the pouring rain."

To sponsor Mr and Mrs Lewis, visit justgiving.com/michaellewis3, for Save the Children, or justgiving.com /michaellewis4 for RMBI.