We all get that warm feeling when we hop on our bike, get the car started or begin that final walk home on Christmas Eve in anticipation for the festivities ahead. That emotion must only be a slither compared to the epic journey one Briton has completed in order to get home for Christmas.

Jimmy Hailwood, of Greater Manchester, has cycled 12,000 miles back to Britain from Australia in order to spend the Holiday season with his girlfriend. And to top it off, Jimmy raised just over £17,000 for charity in the process.

The 29-year old tiler, who had been working in Australia, took it upon himself to get home in time for Christmas 2015 to see his family and girlfriend. Of the foreseeable future, Jimmy added ‘I am staying home for a year at least!”

The arduous trip began last December, starting in Australia and finishing at the Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire, where he arrived this month. The money he raised will be going to the Hospice which he explained had helped a close friend’s child who had died aged four years old.

The planned route took Jimmy across the world, mostly by land, but had to take two plane journeys from Perth, Australia to Denpasar in Bali. Of the trip Mr Hailwood described his meagre and simple way of living, often staying in his tent and on occasion sleeping in Police Stations, a Mosque in Malaysia and Monastery in Thailand.

Cycling seven hours a day, with three days on and one day off, Mr Hailwood described the trip as lonely on occasion but was joined by a friend, Colin Nash on part of the journey. ‘My Legs feel like steel now!’ he added of the challenging ordeal he had faced.

So what is next for Jimmy? A year at home but the prospect of further adventures was not dismissed by the now keen adventurer. ‘I have got a couple of things floating around in my head for another challenge. But it is great that we have raised money for Derian House’.

You can still visit and donate to Jimmy’s just giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/backtobritainbybike/