A Ledbury man who suffers from motor neurone disease is joining a sponsored walk to help fight the debilitating illness.

Keen line dancer Don Rigby, 62, who still attends regular classes at Ledbury's Community Hall, will wear a neck brace to walk at least some way along the ten-mile route.

Mr Rigby will set out from the Rose and Crown in Redmarley on February 8, from 10.30am, with a group of friends, fundraisers and their dogs.

He said: "A lot of people may gain because of money put into research. I've been helping the research into motor neurone disease (MND) and it keeps me going, as do all the girls at the line dancing sessions and everyone at Speller Metcalfe of Malvern, where I work. There are a lot of nice people about."

Proceeds from the event will go into MND research at the Birmingham clinic attended by Mr Rigby.

The walk has been organised by the dance instructor for Ledbury's 5-Star Liners, Julie Burr, who said: "Don is a brilliant chap and we're just doing our best for him."

Mr Rigby is the grandfather of Emily Williams, 14, the John Masefield High School pupil who recently came second in her class at the line dancing world championships in Nashville, USA.

Like Emily, Mr Rigby is a keen line dancer, having taken it up five years ago. He was diagnosed with MND disease just over two years ago.

Since then, has helped to launch a series of Royal Mail stamps highlighting the need for MND research.

In the last few years, his illness has become quite bad, affecting his speech and upper body in particular.

Mrs Burr said Mr Rigby might not be able to complete the full ten-mile route so she was calling for him and her dog, Archie, to be sponsored together, so that Archie could complete the course on his own if necessary.

The 5-Star Liners are no strangers to raising money for MND research. They raised £204 at their recent Christmas party.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Rigby and Archie, should telephone 077641 61089.