A POLICE safety trainer is taking five months off work – to hike 2,178 miles across 14 U.S. states.

Dan Bennett, who works for Cheshire Police, is in the U.S. to walk along the Appalachian Trail, a famous hike from Georgia to Maine, with his brother Steve.

They have both worked in the Forces and are raising cash for the Help for Heroes charity.

Dan, who is based at Crewe police station, said: "We had wanted to tackle the trail for years, but it was doing it for Help for Heroes which got things moving."

Steve, who lives in the U.S., and Dan are expecting to walk between 20 and 25 miles a day.

Dan said: "On some stretches, the weather can change in just a few minutes. We'll have to be careful about that."