A RETIRED Budleigh Salterton geologist turned Good Samaritan when he offered a stranger, on a 7,500-mile charity trek around Britain, refuge from the driving rain.

A RETIRED Budleigh Salterton geologist turned Good Samaritan when he offered a stranger, on a 7,500-mile charity trek around Britain, refuge from the driving rain.

Charles Morley bumped into 23-year-old Matthew Snow in Budleigh last month - Matthew had begun his epic anti-clockwise journey of the coastline, from Lands End, the previous month.

Matthew, from Cleethorpes, is raising money for an Indian orphanage, set up in 2005 by a Grimsby minister in the wake of the Asian Tsunami.

He had asked about a bed and breakfast - but Mr Morley instead offered him a bed at his home, Oaklodge.

He said: "Poor devil he was soaked through. I said 'what a night to be out' and he told me what he was trying to accomplish.

"I have a sneaking respect for someone trying to do something so damn difficult. He is only a young fellow, and I just know he is going to succeed.

"But I told him there was no way he was getting into my car!"

Mr Snow expects to complete the journey by the summer - but Mr Morley extended his generosity by replacing his tattered rucksack.

"I thought it was the least I could do," he said.

To sponsor Matthew call him on: 07917830588.