AN Eastleigh teacher has had to change track in his bid to raise £3,500 by cycling around the Great Wall of China due to the SARS outbreak in the Far East.

Now Adrian Goddard, Crestwood School's head of humanities, will cycle the same distance - 400km - around the Sinai Desert, which forms Egypt's land border with Israel to raise money for mental health charity Mencap.

The geography teacher is making the charitable gesture to mark his 50th birthday on May 30 and has been sponsored by colleagues, pupils and local businesses.

Head teacher Phil Munday said: "We wish Adrian the best of luck and have every confidence he will rise to this monumental challenge."