Commuters arriving at Alton railway station on the morning of August 25 will be confronted by a nine-foot tall tiger.

Fortunately they won’t need to run away or dash for safety in their cars, as this will be a tiger suit riding on the back of wildlife photographer and conservation campaigner Paul Goldstein.

Paul will leave the station at 8am and walk to Winchester on the latest leg of a 1,000-mile walking challenge to help Bengal tigers.

He is inviting Altonians to join him on 2 Legs For 4, which he is undertaking in two 500-mile chunks. Having completed the first half, from Anglesey to Southend-on-Sea, he is now heading from Southend to Land’s End.

Paul welcomes “anyone with a pair of walking shoes or boots - and a reasonable sense of humour” for as far as they can manage.

His tiger suit has seen the world for 26 years, accompanying him through 50 marathons on three continents - including the Everest Marathon - and 19,341ft up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

It has helped raise £600,000 to conserve wild tigers facing poaching, incarceration, habitat loss and conflict with people.

Paul said: “Tigers don’t need sympathy. They need action. If you care about wildlife, come and walk. A mile, five miles, the whole day - I don’t care. Just get involved. And if your legs aren’t up to it, your wallet will do.”

The route will pass through Ackender Wood and Chawton Woods via Chawton Park Farm - countryside rich in wildlife and ancient woodland threatened by proposals to build 1,100 homes.

Paul added: “This visit is therefore a timely reminder that conservation isn't only about protecting extraordinary animals thousands of miles away. It is also about valuing and defending wildlife and wilderness on our own doorstep.”

For more information, to register to walk, or to donate, visit 2LegsFor4.co.uk