A pensioner walked round the Cotswolds dressed as Father Christmas to raise money for children and animal charities.

John Dodd trekked for 17 days through picturesque villages in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in a Santa outfit in aid of Lucy Air Ambulance, Cotswold Care Home and the Blue Cross.

The 66-year-old carried a sack of toys donated from retailers to give out to children on the 17 day trek which covered about 340 miles.

The Surbiton resident raised nearly £800 for the charities on his travels which took in places such as Oxford, Cheltenham, Bourton-on-the-Water and Cirencester.

Mr Dodd said: “I’ve been spending a lot of my time doing walks like this recently - when I became a pensioner last year I realised I needed to have something to do with my time."

“Everyone I’ve met was extremely generous, especially considering how tight they are at the moment - I stayed at the Four Pillars Hotel and they wouldn’t let me pay for anything, which I was extremely grateful for.

“All being well, my ambition is to do my final walk on my 80th birthday but that’s some way off yet.”

Mr Dodd, whose treks have included walks for celebrities such as June Whitfield, plans to walk for Wicker Man star Christopher Lee’s 90th birthday later this year.