MUCH like his legendary namesake, Robin Hood is a man determined to make a positive impact on the lives of those suffering difficulties.

But while folklore dictates the Robin Hood we all know stole from the rich to give to the poor, a 62-year-old of the same name is currently pulling an eight foot, 20 stone statue of a soldier more than 400 miles from Dumfries to London to benefit the lives of army veterans.

Mr Hood decided to pull Jock, a model of a Scottish squaddie, to raise funds for forces’ charity Southwest Scotland RNR, which provided care respite and training to people affected by war.

On Monday, he stopped off in Hexham to receive donations and explain to the people of Tyne Valley why he was putting himself through the pain for  charity.

He said: "I came up with this idea to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. We offer respite care to veterans to help them get back on their feet and allow them to have a good holiday when it is very much needed."

The fund-raising effort coincided with the news that Mr Hood's application to Government to get veterans back into work had been successful. The Government was to provide £130,000 over three years to train veterans to become lorry drivers, with Mr Hood and his team expected to match the funding.

He said: "Many people have horrible moments of war and there is no better therapy for someone suffering post traumatic stress disorder than feeling rewarded, getting a good, well-paid job as a lorry driver and benefitting the economy as there is a shortage of about 80,000 lorry drivers in the UK."