One die-hard football fan will prove he's a real Lion-hart as he hitch-hikes to Germany with a friend to see England's World Cup clash with Sweden.

When Peter Hart, 35, found he won tickets to England's match with Sweden he was over the moon. But he was less estatic when he found out flights to Germany had risen to £400.

So he decided to hitch from Oxford and cross the continent to Cologne and raise money for the British Red Cross while he was at it all while wearing a lion suit along with pal Sean Scatchard.

Mr Hart, of Stansfield Close, Headington, Oxford, said: "I wanted to go to Germany anyway for the World Cup even though I didn't have any tickets, but no-one wanted to go with me.

"I thought I'd just forget about and not bother but I entered a competition in the News of the World on the off chance and won tickets for the game.

"Suddenly everyone wanted to come.The flights were too expensive I thought we might as well hitch-hike for charity. I've always wanted to do some fundraising and I'm in-between jobs now so I have time.

"I'm very excited. I just hope we get there in time for the match and with some time to spare!

"I've calculated that if we don't get any lifts we'll have enough time to walk. There's no way we are missing it.

"So if you see a stressed looking lion by the side of the road, give him a lift to Germany!"

Mr Hart will be risking heatstroke by dressing as one of the Three Lions of the shirt and song fame.

Mr Scatchard has vowed to dress in a boiler suit with a red cross symbolic of both England and the Red Cross.

The pair hope to raise about £2,000 from their 358-mile hitch. They are to leave on Sunday for Tuesday's match. To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/hitchtogermany