AN EAST Morton man plans to cycle, walk and climb more than 3,500 miles in honour of those who died during the First World War.

Philip Brotherton, 37, expects his solo expedition will take about three months, beginning in Gallipoli, Turkey, and ending at the Belgian coastal town of Nieuwpoort.

“As I'm a qualified mountain leader who loves spending time in the hills and mountains, I think that I have both the experience and the motivation to carry out this expedition," he said. "I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

To commemorate 100 years since the start of the war, and to raise funds for The Royal British Legion, Mr Brotherton will begin his trek from Gallipoli on the April 25 2015, exactly 100 years after the Allied landings at Anzac Cove.

He will then spend the next three months following the First World War front line over the mountains of Greece and Macedonia, through Serbia, over the mountains of Slovenia and Italy, and then onto the "home stretch" of France and Belgium.

Mr Brotherton, of Otley Road, added: "I'll be leaving a trail of 2015 poppies as a sign of remembrance to all who died from both sides in The Great War.

"1,000 of the poppies will have the names of children from some of the countries that were involved in the war.

"I want to offer the remaining poppies to anybody else who would like to have a token of remembrance laid for them along the route."

Mr Brotherton is seeking donations, and people can find out how to donate online at trailofpoppies.co.uk They can also visit facebook.com/trail.of.poppies for details.