ROUND the world challenger Sam Greatrex is back home in Halesowen after completing the 2,000-mile European leg of his epic journey.

The 29-year-old, who is attempting to cycle and row around the Earth in a record-breaking 18 months, is back to prepare his specially-built 28ft ocean rowing boat for the arduous crossing of the North Atlantic.

He and a team of four volunteer rowers will set off in the new year from the west coast of Portugal for his toughest challenge yet, which is expected to take more than two months.

They will row in two-hour shifts, around-the-clock until reaching Georgetown, Guyana, and the start of the South American leg of his mammoth cycle.

The cancer survivor, who has already raised £10,000 towards his £240,000 target for Macmillan Cancer Support, will train on the rowing machine at Halesowen Leisure Centre in readiness of the January launch.

Mr Greatrex, of Cloister Drive, anticipates spending 70 days at sea as they row the 3,500 nautical miles across the ocean.

The boat is built of carbon for speed and self-rights in the case of a capsize.

The crew will be self-sufficient with everything they need for up to five months at sea, including freeze dried meals, a water maker, safety and communication equipment.

His cycle through France, Spain and Portugal, which he began on September 6, was challenging, but the support for his charity bid kept him going.

He said: “Temperatures were consistently hitting 35C and the Pyrenees and Sistema Iberico made Clent feel like a walk in the park.”