TEACHERS at an Oxford school are training for a gruelling fitness challenge to help tackle hunger and food waste.

Gavin Turner and Simon Roche, who teach at St Edward's School in Summertown, are set to take on a 100km ultramarathon along the Ridgeway trail in South Oxfordshire.

The pair will run Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones on Saturday, July 14 in aid of surplus food charity The Felix Project.

Mr Turner said he and his 37-year-old colleague have never before ran an ultramarathon.

The 34-year-old said: "We both have competitive sporting backgrounds, rugby and cricket respectively, and now enjoy maintaining a high level of fitness through an active lifestyle.

"This is a voyage into the unknown and one that we are nervously excited about."

The route stretches from The Chilterns near Lewknor to the historic stone circles of Avebury in Wiltshire.

Mr Turner, who is head of the school's geography department, said he hoped to finish the course with a time of between 10 and 12 hours.

He said: "The Ridgeway is an iconic and challenging route, which starts close to where we both work and runs through some areas that we both know very well.

"We are astonished by the support pledged so far by staff, students and their parents, and we remain hugely grateful for the generosity that they have shown."

Their efforts will raise money for London-based The Felix Project, St Edward's School's chosen charity this year.

To sponsor Mr Turner and Mr Roche, who teaches in the English department, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/julie-richens.