A MALVERN man will be marking International Autism Awareness Week by walking 127 miles between two northern cities.

Paul Ferguson, of Queens Road, has been working with autism and families affected by autism for the last 15 years.

He has worked both for Worcestershire County Council's children's services department and for the Birmingham-based charity Autism West Midlands.

Previously he ran a shop, Malvern Outdoors, in the town's Church Street.

He now plans to walk 127 miles from Leeds to Liverpool, alongside the canal linking the two cities, to raise money for the National Autistic Society.

He said: "I got the idea after my wife bought a horse brass marked Leeds to Liverpool canal.

"My daughter now lives in Leeds and that's what sealed the deal for me."

He aims to set out from Leeds on Saturday, March 30, and arrive at his destination the following Saturday.

Mr Ferguson aims to raise £500 from the walk, and anyone who wants to contribute should visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Ferguson18.