Most people travelling from Oxford to Crewe would go by car, book a coach or catch a train, but not Roger Jenking.

On April 1, the 60-year-old is undertaking a more ambitious way of tackling the 100-mile trip - solely using local buses.

He has decided to test a national concessionary local bus scheme which starts that day.

The April Fool's Day journey to Cheshire will take an estimated 10-and-a-half hours, and involve Mr Jenking travelling on seven local buses through five counties.

Mr Jenking, of Joan Lawrence Place, in Headington, Oxford, who works part-time at the Museum of Oxford, said he was confident he would make Crewe by the early evening.

He said: "I want to see if I can get across the country in a day, and I want to try out buses in different parts of the county.

"There might be delays but I think there's enough flexibility in my schedule. I'm reasonably confident. I give myself a 70 per cent chance of making it to Crewe - I would be disappointed if I didn't and I might even get there early. In some ways if I didn't it would be interesting because it would show the problem of travelling between counties."

Mr Jenking, who uses his local bus pass three times a week, believes strongly in public transport and backed the national concessionary bus pass scheme, which will enable people over 60 or with disabilities to travel free anywhere they like within England on local bus services.

It excludes travel on services such as National Express.

Previously, OAPs were only entitled to travel within the boundary of the council that issued the pass.

He said: "My trip started as a bit of fun, but I can see now there's a point involved in pushing public transport.

"I think people should use bicycles and public transport where possible and I'm in favour of the traffic restrictions in Oxford. I'm also in favour of free public transport.

"The new bus pass means poor pensioners will be able to travel more and rich ones won't use their cars so much - it's a win, win situation."

Mr Jenking plans to catch the 9am bus from Oxford to Chipping Norton.

From there he will catch the 10.02am service to Stratford, before hopping on the 11.45am to Birmingham.

From Birmingham he catches the 1.30pm to Wolverhampton, then the 3.46pm for Stafford, where he hopes to catch the 5pm to Stoke.

The final leg of his journey will see him taking a 6.34pm service to Crewe, which arrives at 7.25pm.

If Mr Jenking was paying for the trip, it would cost £21.

The only direct National Express coach from Oxford to Crewe on that day leaves at 1.55pm and arrives at 6.20pm. A one-way fare costs £24.

Mr Jenking plans to travel back by train.