ONE man and his dog are trekking 500 miles across the Pyrenees mountains and northern Spain in an astonishing charity challenge.

Window cleaner Adam Keleghar won't have pet pooch Rocky on a lead for the trek – he is PUSHING him every step of the way in a DIY doggy trailer.

"Rocky is now 11 and he isn't the fittest he's ever been," said Adam, from Walton.

"He's getting old and his back legs are going now so I'm going to push him.

"I took him to the vet and they said he's got really bad arthritis.

"But they said this sounded like an adventure and would be awesome.

"I liked the idea of doing something adventurous and to have some great lasting memories with Rocky will be amazing."

Adam, 31, and his Staffie will drive down to St Jean Pied de Port in the south of France before embarking on the gruelling 791km hike through the Pyrenees and across to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.

"I've travelled a fair bit and I've always felt a bit guilty about not taking Rocky," said Adam.

"So this is mainly a trip for him so we can be together on a crazy adventure.

"But I've never been a big hiker – I don't really know what possessed me.

"It takes keen hikers about 35 days but they aren't pushing a dog in a trailer and worrying about him.

"I don't want Rocky to be out there in the worst heat so I'm probably going to stick to a few hours in the morning and evening when it's a bit cooler."

Adam, of The Parade, admits it could take him up to four months to complete the walk.

He is hoping to raise £500 for the Dogs Trust which runs the 'Hope' project for homeless people with pets.

"The Dogs Trust help dogs worldwide and never puts a healthy dog down," he said.

"More close to my heart is the work they do for homeless people and their dogs. They help with temporary housing, hostels and everything that a dog needs medically.

"I was once made homeless with Rocky and there was nothing in the way of help to get housing if you had a dog back then.

"But there was never any question of getting rid of him."

Adam has been training for the ancient pilgrimage route at Walton's Lifestyles leisure centre.

He said: "I've been on the treadmill every day with a bag on my back but there is nothing you can do to train to push a 100kg trailer other than doing some weights."

The trailer will be loaded with Rocky's gear.

Adam said: "Usually he knows when my bags are by the door that I'm going to leave him.

"This time he is really excited because I've put in his dog bowls so he knows he is coming too."

He added: "I don't do things by half. I like to chuck myself in the deep end because you meet a lot more people.

"There will be so much culture going through so much of Spain – and I'll pick up a nice tan along the way."

To sponsor the trek search for adam-keleghar on justgiving.com.