A COUNTY publisher bade wellwishers farewell last Saturday as he set out on foot to Rome.

Andy Johnson, of Logaston Press, plans to trek 1,200 mile in 80 days after walking into Hereford from his Almeley home on Friday night.

It is the second such trip the 53 year-old will have made in recent years after taking his inspiration from a novel.

He said: “I had always had a childhood dream because of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning – it always left an impression on my brain so I just decided two or three years before to plan the first trip. It was then a question of which direction do I head off in?” After reaching Spain’s Santiago de Compostela, Andy decided to repeat the experience elsewhere and this time raise funds for Amnesty International.

He is joined by partner Karen Stout, 43, and their friend Peter Shackleton, 60, who is raising money for St Owens special needs centre in Hereford.

The three will camp en route until Italy where they plan to make the most of local hospitality. Andy explained: “There are various monasteries that put you up if you are doing that trail so we have got a lot of telephone numbers.” They will also make plenty of time for sightseening and meeting other travellers.

“I think with all travel the best bit is the people you meet, the totally unexpected, I just find people are so open with you,” said Andy.

Funds for a new minibus at St Owens have so far reached more than £3,000 while a team of friends are supervising fund-raising for Andy, who has no fixed target.

Donations can be made at www.just giving.com/andy johnson1 or at www.fasoc.co.uk