A former soldier who lost an arm and a leg while supervising mine clearance in Mozambique starts a 1,000-mile challenge from Edinburgh to raise funds for Barnardo's.

Chris Moon, who lost his limbs in 1995, has been running marathons, ultra-distance races and raising money for charity in the past 15 years.

The 48-year-old, who was born in Wiltshire and lived in Coombe Bissett, near Salisbury, aims to run 36 miles a day for 30 days. He leaves Edinburgh on Wednesday for the journey and is expected to clock up about 1,000 miles in the month.

The route of the Post Office 1000 Challenge will take him through Scotland to Northern Ireland, through Manchester, Liverpool, Northampton and finishes in London on September 30.

Mr Moon, who lives in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, said: "Barnardo's is the Royal Mail Group's charity partner. I am both excited and honoured to be involved in this fundraising campaign.

"I think knowing that we just did a little bit to make a difference is what life is about, and I hope that by doing this challenge it will help in some way to provide a brighter future with hope and dignity for more children.

"I have trained for six months to make my body strong enough to do it. I have done a lot of weight training to make sure the muscles around the joints protect the joints and I have been running 10 miles on most days."

He continued: "This is about being strong enough not to break. This is probably one of the toughest I have done. Every pound is going to count. My target, personally, is raising in the region of over £1m.

"My biggest fear is that the bit of the leg that's left swells up and then gets blisters. It could mean I won't be able to get my leg on again.

"The standard of artificial legs is so much better than it was five years ago, so it reduces trauma to the leg."

Speaking about Barnardo's, he said: "Before I joined the Army I worked with homeless young people, so I have an understanding of some of the issues youngsters face. I think what they (Barnardo's) do makes a huge difference.

"Somebody in the Post Office helped me with a run I did years and years ago and they came to me with this challenge."

Mr Moon said he was in the Army for six years before he worked with the Halo Trust helping to clear landmines in Cambodia and Mozambique.

Paula Vennells, chief operating officer at Post Office Limited, said: "We are proud to be part of this unique challenge. Chris will be visiting Post Office branches throughout the UK during his inspirational run.

"We hope this will unite people in these villages, towns and cities to raise vital funds that will make a real difference to thousands of Barnardo's children."

Barnardo's is also encouraging people to take on their own personal 1000 Challenge to raise funds for the Believe in Children Appeal.

Donations for Mr Moon's Post Office 1000 Challenge can be made online at www.postoffice.co.uk or by going to a Post Office branch.

Mr Moon's journey can also be followed online through Twitter, under the title 1000--challenge, on Facebook, on the page Post Office 1000 Challenge and the Post Office website.