AN INTREPID council officer has stepped in to undertake a pensioner's ambitious charity trek across the Malvern Hills to raise funds for community projects in Thailand.

Seventy-year-old Patrick Plunkett, of Arosa Drive, Malvern, was due to walk a 20-mile route along the slopes to raise funds for a team of charitable folk to take out to Thailand in February 2007.

He had been preparing for the task - to take place tomorrow - by undertaking several smaller treks along the hills.

However, after experiencing chest pains and breathlessness, he was advised by his doctor not to do the walk.

He said: "I was quite disappointed and terribly shocked when it happened because I've got a reputation for being Mr Superman but suddenly at 70 years of age I'm not Superman any more and I realise I have to hang up my costume!"

Determined not to let the setback dash his plans, Mr Plunkett has, however, now handed over the reigns to his friend 57-year-old Gerry Davies - senior environmental health technician at Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Mr Davies, joined by a group of about four other volunteers, is now set to walk from British Camp in the centre of the hills to End Hill in the north, to Chase End Hill in the south and back, starting at 7am tomorrow.

He said: "I'm glad to be helping him out - I was going to be walking with him to encourage him anyway but obviously he had to drop out.

"I've done the walk many times but have a bit of a creaky knee at the moment being a runner and walker for many years so I'm hoping it'll hold out for the day."

Mr Plunkett hopes the event will raise between £750 and £1,000 for the Thai project, which will see a team carrying out varying schemes in northern Thailand including building a new concrete bridge over a stream which floods every year during the rainy and flash flood seasons, cutting off communities and villages.

In addition to the walk, an auction of promises will be held at the Foley Arms in Malvern's Worcester Road at 7.30pm on Monday, January 18.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Gerry/Patrick can call Mr Plunkett on 01684 564487.

Anyone wantiing to find out more about the team trip or get involved - or anyone wanting to offer promises for the auction - can ring Dave Alban on 01684 569281.