An Essex council chairman is taking on a 15-mile walk with the aim of raising £1,000 for charity.

Starting at Putney Bridge and ending at Tower Bridge, Tendring District Council (TDC) chairman Mark Platt is raising money and awareness for sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

As well as helping the charity itself, Mr Platt is supporting Frinton resident Bethan Phillips, who has suffered with poor vision throughout her life. He will accompany Ms Phillips, who is doing the walk as part of her training for a four-day Inca Trail trek up Machu Picchu in Peru, which she is also completing to raise funds for the RNIB.

Mr Platt and the group of nine others he is walking with hope to raise £1,000 from the event, which takes place on Saturday, June 9.

“I’m looking forward to taking on this challenge to not only raise funds for the RNIB but also awareness,” he said.

“Walking with Bethan and others in the group who are blind will be a real experience, and I hope to learn about what it is like for blind people to walk around – something sighted people take for granted.”

To donate to Bethan’s fundraising, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bethan-phillips78.