A doctor is looking forward to retirement so he can spend more time on his "hobby" - setting up hospitals and clinics in the Third World.

Dr Farzin Rahmani has been spending the last 30 years going to some of the poorest parts of the globe in his time off to help bring basic medical aid.

His latest project has involved two meetings with the president of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, as well as other government ministers to bring a hospital to a rural area which does not yet even have a proper road.

But his determination, negotiating skills and sheer optimism are already reaping results on Project Luymba.

Water and electricity have already been laid on, and funding guaranteed for a 70km road from the capital Lusaka through the African bush.

And, from previous experience, Dr Rahmani has no doubt he will be able to find the doctors and nurses to staff the new hospital for life-saving operations.

"This is my biggest challenge so far and I am looking forward to seeing it through," he said.

Dr Rahmani, 60, has three months before he retires from his job as an anaesthetist at Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

From his home off Oxford Road in Woodstock he is already planning further trips to Africa.

It all started when he was a medical student in Pakistan and got involved in setting up a basic health centre, water and electricity in a remote community.

He then came to England to work in the NHS and, over the years, has seen through many Third World projects, in places like Guyana, Nicaragua, Honduras and South Africa.

He said: "I call it my hobby, but I guess you could call it a mission.

"It has become the main thing in my life - though like most other people I had to earn a living for my family."

Through his three decades of involvement with the Third World, he said there was a large pool of people who want to help and he has built up a network of contacts in medical schools in this country as well as overseas.

He added: "Zambia is very short of doctors and few would be attracted to go to a remote community like Luymba.

"But the government has now guaranteed $2,000 (US) a month for those that I find to go there and I want to ensure it becomes a model project for other places.

"I have loved working here in the NHS, it is a wonderful service.

"The expertise, training and skills we have here are desperately needed by poorer countries."

Anyone interested in helping or donating towards the Luymba project can contact Dr Rahmani via email at f.rahmani@btinternet.com