A grandfather will be retracing the 2,000-year-old footsteps of the Roman legionnaires when he walks from his home to the Italian capital in memory of his grandson.

Bob Clarke, 64, of Harrogate Street, Undercliffe, Bradford, said he aimed to complete the 1,700-mile trip in May.

The landscaper aims to raise thousands of pounds for Andrea’s Gift in memory of Callum, who died eight years ago when he was ten months old.

Mr Clarke said the idea had come about when discussing with his wife what he could do if he retired.

He said: “Basically, I’m 65 in April and so I could retire, but I don’t know if I will, I’ll probably semi-retire. But I’m keen on Roman history and I’ve never been to Rome, so my wife said when you retire you can go to Rome.

"As I was talking about it the idea just came to me, I said ‘you go there and I’ll meet you there’. The Roman legionnaires could walk from Rome to Yorkshire, so I’m sure 2,000 years later I can walk from home to Rome.”

Mr Clarke said the challenge could take up to four months.