A FORMER merchant seaman will be making his fourth and final 17-mile charity walk next month and says he is “hoping to go out with a bang”.

In recent years thousands of pounds has been raised for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) through the Gloucester to Sharpness walks carried out by Tony Green from Newport.

As well as raising money for the RNLI, a charity he admits is close to his heart from his days at sea, Tony completes the treks in memory of close friends and family members - many of whom also have seafaring links.

"Over the years a number of people I was very close with have died," he said.

"As much as the walks are to raise important funds for the fantastic work of the RNLI, it's about honouring their lives."

Tony, who now works at Highfield Garden World in Whitminster, will make the journey on Friday, September 1 and said that, due to his age, this would probably be his final hike.

"I will soon be 68," he added. "I feel this is probably the last time I will be able to complete such a long walk and I am hoping to go out with a bit of a bang.

"The RNLI does fantastic work - some of which I experienced during my time as a merchant seaman - and they are very deserving of every penny I can raise.

"The 12 years I spent as a seaman were the happiest years of my life and my aim is to be able to give back in some way if I can."

To donate to Tony’s cause visit justgiving.com/fundraising/tony-green7. Collection buckets can also be found at Highfield garden centre.