WHILE most people will spend the next couple of weeks trying to decide whether to stay in or leave the European Union, this cyclist is offering voters a more radical alternative.

Jonathan Hawkins, from Didcot, has made it his personal crusade to persuade people to spoil their ballot papers in the referendum on June 23, to avoid voting for either campaign.

To spread his message, the 57-year-old will set off from Didcot on Wednesday and complete a cycle tour of the UK.

In total he will cycle about 590 miles, first travelling up to Edinburgh in a van before cycling down to Westminster, arriving two days before the vote on June 21.

He said: "This is a bad referendum with the wrong question.

"An In vote threatens democracy by approving the giving away of our country’s law-making powers to Europe. None of the ordinary people have said that it’s OK for Europe to make laws.

"An Out vote throws out the potential of a more mature Europe in future that works for the good of its nation states.

"There is an alternative. If enough people spoil their ballot papers and put them in the box, it will send a clear signal to the Government that the status quo is not acceptable and Europe needs reformulating."

During his time on the road, the amateur historian will be speaking to passers-by about his campaign and will be canvassing on streets alongside other Remain and Brexit campaigners.

He said: "I've had an interest in democracy for some time now. I started to study Europe and I realised we are being given all the wrong information about it.

"I chose to do this because I want to go out and talk to people. I meet those all the time who say they do not know which way to vote and this is a different option for them."

Last weekend Mr Hawkins decided to go one step further and call up television and radio presenter Katie Hopkins on her LBC radio show about the referendum.

But for someone who is used to criticising other people, Mr Hawkins - who admits his wife Julie is undecided on her vote - said the phone-in was not what he expected.

He said: "She was very nice actually, she even gave a shout-out to my campaign, which was very good of her."

For Mr Hawkins it will be the longest distance he has ever cycled, and during his trip he will wear a T-shirt with the hashtag #VoteNone and his Twitter account @EUrefVoteNone.

On top of that a number plate on his bicycle will read "Agree? Hoot!".