A SMALL crowd gave former England rugby player Jeremy Guscott a warm send-off yesterday as he left Worcester to tackle the rest of his 800-mile walk for leukaemia research.

The player had been inundated with attention the day before as shoppers gathered outside Tesco, St Peter's, to meet the sportsman trying to prepare for the fourth leg of the Tetley's Trek.

After kicking off the walk at Bath Rugby Club last Friday, aiming to pass every English Premiership ground by Saturday, November 10, the former British Lions star said the challenge was a tough one.

"People think walking is easy but putting yourself through a marathon like this is very different," he said, before setting off towards Droitwich.

"As well as being incredibly tough physically, it is mentally hard on the long stretches of empty roads."

Following in the footsteps of cricketer Ian Botham, who raised close to £5m in a decade of walks for the Leukaemia Research Fund, Guscott aims to convert his journey into more than £250,000 by the time he reaches Twickenham.

And joined by best friend Chalky - or Tony Wardle - he believes he will get through four pairs of trainers and lose a stone over the next four weeks.

A spokesman for the fund said Worcester had given Guscott a marvellous reception.

"Crowds of people were there to welcome him," she said.

To read his daily diary, ask questions or make a donation, visit the Trek website at www.tetleystrek.co.uk