Yachtsman Adrian Flanagan has named the departure date for his round-the-world voyage - and urged people to dig deep to support his chosen charity, Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign.

Mr Flanagan, a 44-year-old father-of-two from Lud- gershall, near Bicester, aims to give the hospital campaign a massive boost by sailing single-handedly and non-stop around the globe via the Arctic in aid of it.

The qualified osteopath and business consultant has now announced his Alpha Global Expedition will start from Point Hamble Arena in Southampton on Tuesday, October 18, at noon.

He plans to cover more than 35,000 miles over the Atlantic towards Africa, passing south of Australia, going north over the Pacific and through the Arctic before sailing across the North Sea and back into the Channel.

If he succeeds, he will be the first person to circumnavigate the globe via that route single-handedly and without stopping.

With less than a month to go, he has renewed his appeal for people to sponsor his 300-day voyage.

He said: "I want to do this for a good cause and was hoping to raise a healthy sum of money to donate to the hospital.

"It would be really encouraging if people could get behind me on this.

"It is a huge task to take on which I would like to see a lot of people benefit from."

The next few weeks will be spent making final preparations, such as stocking up on food, water and fuel supplies.

He will have to carry about 1,000 litres of fuel.

He said: "The boat is ready. There are still a few bits and pieces which need sorting, but all the loose ends seem to be coming together.

"I am feeling a bit apprehensive about it, as you would expect. One of the most challenging parts of the trip will be getting out of the shipping channels in the English Channel.

"That will be dangerous and risky. It can be like the M40 sometimes, it's so busy. There are huge ships going up and down every few seconds. If I was hit by one of those, it would all be over before it's even begun.

"Of course, I am also feeling nervous about leaving the children.

"It's a long time to be apart from them and that is going to be one of the toughest parts of the challenge."