MOST people may think he's off his trolley but madcap Matheu Parry reckons his two-wheeled sponsored scooter push will land him in the record books.

The 23-year-old from Brierfield is aiming to scoot around 1,000 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End this summer to raise cash for Shelter, the charity for the homeless.

His sooped-up scooter, which has been donated by a firm in Bristol, has brakes, larger wheels and a sturdier frame than normal models to help it withstand a battering on roads the length of Britain.

And Matheu has got backing from the leaders of the main political parties for his marathon push. John Major, Tony Blair and Paddy Ashdown have all sent letters of support for his bizarre cash-raising cruise through the country.

"Around six or seven people a week cycle from one end of the country to another but no-one's ever done it like this. There's an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest distance scooted in 24 hours but not an endurance record like this. I'll be the first person to go so far on a scooter."

Matheu plans to set off from John O'Groats on August 1 and hopes to complete the journey in around a month. Matheu will have a full back-up team with him travelling in a donated minibus and he will sleep overnight in a caravan.

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