Granny Caroline Herries's usual cycling trips don't stretch much further than the shops.

But this month the 64-year-old will fly to Ethiopia to embark on an arduous, 180-mile, high-altitude fundraising cycling challenge.

And throughout her African adventure Mrs Herries, mother of five grown-up children and grandmother of three, will be relying on a cheap, 'ex-catalogue' bike her sons laughingly refer to as 'the tank'.

Mrs Herries, of Oxford Avenue, Guiseley, said: "I do cycle but my cycling is usually just down to Morrisons to save taking the car.

"But I thought this would be an exciting thing to do - it's going to be high-altitude so the landscape will actually be quite fertile.

"We fly to the capital Addis Ababa, which is high up, and the cycle ride itself will cover land between 6,000 feet and 10,000 feet.

"I'm in training now to try to get my fitness up because although we'll only be doing 30 miles a day the altitude means we won't get much breath.

"It's a sponsored ride for Maternity Worldwide, quite a new charity which started in Ethiopia as a clinic in a hospital in a place called Gimbie.

"One in seven women die in childbirth in Ethiopia and this is training people and improving access to healthcare to try to change that, so it's a very worthwhile charity.

"I'm 64 so I'll be the most senior of the party. I'm creaking a bit but not too much and thought if I'm going to do something like this I need to do it soon before I start really creaking!

"I was talking to the charity about who was on the trip and asked if there were any other older people going.

"The girl on the phone said 'Oh yes, there are a few people in their 30s' and I thought 'That's young!'

"I'm taking my own bike which is ex-catalogue and pretty basic and heavy, although it does have 18 gears.

"Two of my sons have offered to buy me a new one because they say I can't do the trip on 'that old tank'. But I think it's all right, we won't be going at speed!"

Thanks to the generosity of friends, family and businesses Mrs Herries has already passed her £2,100 sponsorship target and has to date raised £3,000 - all of which, as she has insisted on paying for her own expenses, will go to the charity.

She says knowing her large family - husband David and children Robbie, John, Tom, Charlie and Jane - are fully behind her will help her during the toughest stages of the challenge.

Mrs Herries's adventure will begin when she flies to Ethiopia on Friday, September 30, with the cycle trip itself running from October 2 to 8.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Mrs Herries can contact her on (01943) 871774 or find out more details about the charity at www.maternityworld wide.org.