A CURRY Rivel man is reliving his youth by motor-biking 2,500km across India to support four charities.

Roderick Purves, 58, is getting on a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet for the first time in 25 years as one of 100 riders on the Enduro India Challenge from Goa to Cochin in January.

"I'm too old, but my wife wants to get rid of me for a fortnight as I work from home," said Mr Purves, a member of the Rotary Club of Taunton Vale.

"I was a bit of a biker in my youth, but haven't ridden since my sons were born.

"I was going to take it easy until it dawned on me that I didn't want to have to go to the bathroom after 99 other bikers at the end of the day."

Mr Purves hopes to avoid some of the problems of past challenges - including a rider hitting a holy cow, someone careering into a bus and another participant ploughing into a pile of elephant dung.

He raised £1,200 sponsorship at a curry night and hopes to attract more cash through a concert featuring Hot Flush at Queen's College, Taunton, on January 4.

Sponsorship will be split between the Rainbow Trust for terminally ill children, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Adventure Ashram, which offers health care to people in remote Indian villages.

To support Mr Purves, e-mail him at oxfordhouse.clara.co.uk or call 01458-253245.