Most people who pop out on their bicycle tell their family they’ll be back in an hour or two.

But 25-year-old Matthew Blake bid farewell for a whopping four years when he left his home to cycle round the world.

Now, after 45,000 miles and 61 countries, the intrepid traveller is set to return home for the first time since April 2008.

Mr Blake told the Oxford Mail: “Four years is a long time to be on a bicycle alone and with little money left, a tired body and a strained brain. I think the time is right to come back.”

With admirable understatement, he said from Vienna: “I like travelling and I like riding a bike, so this was the next logical step.”

High points have included spectacular mountainous vistas in Kyrgyzstan and Colombia and a Nile cruise on a cargo boat.

The former pupil of Chenderit School, Middleton Cheney, said: “The hardest thing has been dealing with solitude.

“I miss the obvious things such as friends, family and going to QPR. I also miss English food a lot, such as saveloy and chips.”

But all the punctures, sunburn, sore feet and dodgy food has been for a good cause – to help African orphans.

After graduating with a degree in psychology and criminology from Kingston University, Mr Blake worked for a year to raise £14,000.

Sponsorship has raised £8,500 which will all go to SOS Children’s Villages, for a village in Chipata, Zambia.

He said: “In July last year I visited the village and by July this year 140 orphaned children will be living there.” He hopes to raise £15,000.

Mr Blake, from Chacombe near Banbury, went through Europe, Asia to Japan and then north and south America via Alaska and onto Africa.

Now he is set to meet dad Bob, 58, in Luxembourg so the two can cycle the final two-week stretch through Belgium and back to Banbury.

There he will be greeted with a well-deserved pint and party at the George and Dragon at 5pm on Saturday April 7. Mum Carol, who has visited her son twice on his travels, said: “I’ve got used to him being away. I trained myself not to worry because I knew it was going to be a long time.”

She said: “It is amazing. I think he has learned a lot about the world and people.”

Asked about his future plans, Mr Blake said: “I’ll write a book about my experiences which I hope will be out by September.

“Other than that I’ll work as I have no money whatsoever!”

Sponsor Matt by visiting www.worldwidebikeride.com