A CHORLEY granddad is gearing himself up for a daunting 4,500-mile trip around Britain on his M reg scooter!

Daring David Coan plans to ride the entire length of the British coastline -- whatever the weather!

The former computer specialist, who sets off this Sunday (June 4), has spent the past year mapping out the gruelling journey on his own PC.

David, who has an 18-month old grandson, Toby, will keep as close to the coast as the road system will allow, taking in anything from narrow country lanes, to major river crossings, remote moorland to large conurbations.

And while one objective is to raise cash for charity -- he will also be flying the flag for 'grey power' to show the younger generation that 'you're never too old'.

David, of Pine Grove, Chorley, who took early retirement from work in 1991, said: "I do expect to get lost on the way and find a couple of one way streets that I didn't know existed. "And on two wheels you are particularly vulnerable to cross winds. If motorists see me wobbling across the road, it's because they can't feel it. Other road users are the biggest peril."

David's daughter, Janet Butler, 31, who lives in Stevenage, will be driving alongside her father to make sure he does not land himself in too much trouble.

As a qualified first aider and with what David described as a 'good sense of adventure', Janet will follow in a support vehicle with a spare supply of fuel and the odd spanner or two!

The fuel may well come in handy. For, as David explained, petrol stations were few and far between on his planned route -- and his scooter needed topping up every 150 miles or so.

The prospect of David's intrepid trip is not made any easier by the fact that he has only had the scooter for six weeks.

It could be a unique feat, too.

While many have gone between Land's End and John O'Groats by various means, some even completing the double journey, everyone uses the most direct route they can find, while David will be going round the edge of Britain.

David will set out on his trip from Riversway in Preston and hopes to be back for Thursday, June 29. He will be raising money for St Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall.

Readers can follow David's progress in weekly updates courtesy of the Chorley Citizen.