TWO motorcycle enthusiasts from Marlow are revving up for an epic journey around the world for charity.

Martin Williams, 42, and Alan Brown, 38, are planning to spend 12 months circumnavigating the globe to raise money for UNICEF.

The daring duo will travel 85,000 miles on their bikes through some of the world's most remote regions, including Alaska and the Australian outback. They will cross more than 40 countries and six continents.

The trek, which starts on May 1, is the realisation of a dream for the two friends, born out of their love of motorbikes, the freedom of the open road and a sense of adventure.

Mr Williams, of Trinity Avenue, said: "We are under no illusions that it's not going to be tough. The biggest worry is getting ill or breaking down and having to cut the journey short. There's the possibility of facing bandits in South America and civil war in Africa."

The inspiration behind the expedition was the tale of one man's motorbike worldwide journey during the 1970s.

"We read Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels and thought that would be a great thing to do," he said. The pair follow in the footsteps of British actor, Ewan McGregor, who completed a similar adventure in 2004. The two accomplished bikers will travel on the same BMW R1150 GS Adventure motorcycles.

Mr Brown, a corporate accounts manager, of Bobmore Lane, said: "Ewan's DVD about his trip is inspiring, but we will be on our own."

Check in with the pair on www.bikingtheglobe.webhop.org