AN AMBITIOUS pensioner who is cycling across the country to collect thousands of signatures in a birthday card for the Queen will stop off at an Andover retirement home today.

Terry Keen will stop off at Carter's Meadow retirement home in Charlton this afternoon as part of his mission to get an estimated 3,000 signatures in a specially designed birthday card marking the Queen's 90th birthday.

The 70-year-old is cycling over 1,400 miles in the hunt for signatures, stopping off at 90 different Anchor retirement properties on the way.

The Surrey pensioner is also asking people to make donations to charity Grandparent Plus - a support service helping grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

Terry, who has been on the road since 14 March, said: “It has been very tiring cycling all this way and I have many more miles to go but knowing it’s for a good cause and the cheers I’ve received at different Anchor care homes and retirement properties has really spurred me on.

“I really admire the Queen for all her hard work and for being such a wonderful ambassador for the country. I wanted to give something special to her on her 90th birthday so thought why not a birthday card signed by older people from across the country.

“The Queen and I are both grandparents so it seemed relevant to raise money for Grandparents Plus which is such a worthwhile charity.

“The card is also a good way for older people across the country to feel part of this national celebration – not many other people will have signed a birthday card that has traveled around England and will be read by the Queen!”

Anyone wanting to donate to Grandparents Plus or find out about Tour de Terry can go to www.anchor.org.uk/Terry or follow him on Twitter with the hashtag: #TourDeTerry.