A TEST Valley man is aiming to raise hundreds of pounds for a youth charity by driving a tram around his garden and house 30 times.

Stewart Mitchell is looking to rake in £500 for Youth in Romsey, Southampton Road, by riding his tram 1.6 miles around his property from Monday, July 27.

The 70-year-old, who lives in Whitenap, has already managed to raise £470 for the charity and has promised to give everyone who donates to the cause a "free pass" to ride the tram.

The tram-enthusiast said: "I have been building my tramway route in my garden, which loops around my house, since 2012 because I have been interested in trams for most of my life.

"The track is seven and a quarter inches wide, 90 metres long and I am lucky I have got a four foot gap down one side of my house, which I can squeeze through.

"I am a member of the Romsey rotary club and we have an event called Walk the Test Way that happens every year and I thought why don't I make use of the tram for a local charity that looks after children?

"I am going to do my tram ride at the end of the month, from the week starting July 27, and I have got to do 30 laps around the track, which is the same distance from my house to the Youth in Romsey headquarters."

He added anyone who donates to the cause will be allowed a "free pass" to ride the electric tram, which runs on "golf buggy batteries".

He said: "I have got to think about how I can give people rides on the tram without breaking the social distancing rules, but it will happen later this year when it is safe."

Youth in Romsey offers confidential advice and support for young people aged six to 25-years-old.

To donate to Stewart's cause, visit https://bit.ly/3iRCPFU.