A SOUTHAMPTON man is hoping to cycle round Europe, raising money for charity.

Carrying his life on his bicycle, 27-year-old Jonathan Herbert is ready to leave it all beyond for a life on the open road.

Armed with his juggling balls and a Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, he hopes to finally put them to good use and earn some cash during his year-long adventure.

The administrator from Northlands Road, Southampton, said: "I'm doing it because it's something I have always dreamed of doing.

"I always liked the romance of travel but instead got a nine to five job like most other people.''

Starting in France, Jonathan will travel anti-clockwise visiting most of the EU countries as well as those that have applied for candidacy.

Sleeping in a tent or under the stars, he will travel about 8,000 miles and take in 30 countries.

Jonathan chose the British Heart Foundation as the charity to benefit from his ride because his family has supported it for years.

He said: "I decided I was doing this trip but wanted to back a charity as I went. My family has always supported the British Heart Foundation so I wanted to follow suit."

Jonathan can be e-mailed at percyherbert@tiscali.co.uk and he hopes to have a website up and running soon.