A BRADFORD pensioner will be swapping her warm comfy slippers for a pair of trainers in September in an attempt to cycle 170 miles down the West Bank of Palestine.

Judith Hammond, 72 of Middle Rank is no stranger to taking on adrenaline-fuelled challenges having successfully completed the London Marathon aged 55.

But now Mrs Hammond, who is the chair of the Friends of Palestine group in the town, is planning to ride the demanding distance over five days for charity.

“I have never done anything like this before but I love cycling and I just thought it will be a challenge at my age,” Mrs Hammond said.

“Day four will be the toughest with a long haul up from the Dead Sea to Hebron. It’ll be a stiff personal challenge, but it is in a country I love and in aid of an exceptional charity,” she added.

She is aiming to raise £2,500 for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a charity which supports the medical and health needs of the Palestinian people, having previously spent three months as a human rights monitor in Israel and Palestine eight years ago.

Mrs Hammond added: “They are an excellent charity and they send groups of doctors out there to help and give advice to others and they are just brilliant.”

She will be the eldest of a group of 31 cyclists taking on the challenge but said she is determined to train hard so she is not left trailing behind.

“It is lovely when people give an encouraging wave as I cycle around the county building up the training. I am trying to build up my strength at the moment and Wiltshire is a great area to go cycling in with so many hills,” Mrs Hammond said.

Mrs Hammond will be setting off on her trip on September 27.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/judith-hammond.