A Gorleston man who travelled 10,000 miles across America in aid of East Coast Hospice has donated more than £4,000 to the cause.

Malcolm Metcalf, known for his talks and travels, first hatched his plan to raise money for ECH at a book signing last May.

He had read in the paper that the charity needed some help with fundraising to build a palliative care hospice in Gorleston – Malcolm's home town for the last 81 years.

Five months later Malcolm headed across the pond for another adventure on the Amtrak - the railway which spans the US.

It was not the first time he's travelled the American railway but Malcolm said it could be his last.

'This being my last trip I wanted to make it special,' he said. 'I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind generosity, there are just too many of you to list individually.'

Malcolm caught the travel bug at 19, having being stuck in bed for over a year with spinal TB he promised himself that once he was well again he would see the world.

Now in his eight decade, he has written and published travel books.

The first, Malcolm's Luck, tells the true story of his over-land trip from Norfolk to Australia, hitchhiking as much as he could and meeting people from every walk of life along the journey. He eventually arrived in Australia with $2 in his pocket and no plans of what he was going to do or even how he would make it back to the UK.

Malcolm's second book explains how his love affair with the USA began, and which would lead him on to make 20 trips to the subcontinent over his lifetime, and make lifelong friends.

For many people having to spend three days and two nights sleeping on a train seat would not appeal, but Malcolm swears by the Amtrak and said he never misses a chance to 'ride the Iron Horse'.

Last autumn's trip took him 26 days to complete a 10,000 mile journey through 29 states on 12 trains, which he self-funded. Between the American and English public he managed to raise £4,017.18 for ECH. He has now handed the cash to the charity.

Jeff Wood, ECH community fundraiser, said: 'There should be more people like Malcolm Metcalf in the world but unfortunately he is one of a kind. He is a true inspiration to everyone he meets and we will 'Raise the Roof' of Margaret Chadd House that much sooner because of his outstanding work.

'We must say thank you. And for his outstanding achievements and his continued work in the community spreading the word of East Coast Hospice the charity would like to recognise this by awarding Malcolm the honorary title of ambassador.'

'Last year Malcolm gave many talks and asked everyone he met to sponsor him for just £1 each.

'For those of you who know him you will know how easily he strikes up a conversation and he soon had his travel companions digging in their pockets for a few spare dollars. He even had a film producer make a brilliant short film about him.'

To watch the film, search YouTube for 'Malcolm Metcalf Rides the Rails for the last time'.

nECH is raising money to build a 10-bed palliative care hospice called Margaret Chadd House off Sidegate Road on the outskirts of Gorleston. See www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk.