An Alton man who witnessed young children in Hong Kong struggling with their mental health is taking on a 138-mile charity walk to help others in their shoes.

Alexander Adams has vowed to walk the entire length of the Pilgrim’s Way from Winchester to Canterbury to raise money for The Children’s Society, writes Sam Rees.

Mr Adams will set off from September 12 and aims to arrive in Canterbury just over a fortnight later.

He has been inspired to hit the national trail by his experiences in a tutoring centre in Hong Kong where he was struck by how many children – some as young as six – struggled with their mental health and difficult home lives, with some showing signs of domestic abuse.

"The worst part was realising how little I could do to support them myself," he said.

Alexander decided to go into partnership with the Children’s Society because of their good work and campaigning for wider social change. The charity's strong ties to the Church of England made the historic pilgrimage route, followed by pilgrims to Canterbury since the 12th century, a fitting choice.

Alexander, who regularly walks part of the route through Holybourne with his dog, said the path is "never far from your mind" when you grow up locally.

Along the way he will call at churches and stop in towns and villages to collect messages, letters and prayers from the people he meets, to mark the journey and the different communities he passes through.

Though not religious himself, Alexander is looking forward to tracing the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims and taking in the Norman castles, Elizabethan estates, Saxon churches and Tudor inns along the way.

Follow his progress via www.shamblesramble.com while donations can made by looking for ‘Alexander Adams Pigrims Way’ on www.justgiving.com