A councillor said he was “immensely privileged” after cycling nearly 1,000 miles across Asia for charity.

Merton Councillor Jeff Hanna, who represents Pollards Hill ward, set off last month on a mission to cycle from India’s capital, New Delhi, to Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu through the foothills of the Himalayas.

As well as sleeping under the stars, eating from road side stalls and experiencing village life, Coun Hanna was raising money for the Merton’s branch of Parkinston’s UK.

He said: he said: " I felt immensely privileged to have had this opportunity, and was impressed with the friendliness, kindness and helpfulness of the Indian and Nepalese people towards a stranger passing through.

“The high point was reaching the 2488m high point of the Simbhanjyang pass, 50 miles from Kathmandu, and shortly afterwards catching my first sight of the gleaming white Himalayas."

Anyone wishing to make a donation should send a cheque, payable to "The Mayor of Merton’s Charity", to the Mayor at the Civic Centre, London Road, Morden SM4 5DX.

For more information on Parkinson’s UK visit parkinsons.org.uk.