Feature: Novice cyclist heads home to England on a slow bike from China

Novice cyclist Andrew Rogerson has reached the half-way stage in an epic 16,000 km journey from Shanghai to Liverpool, using nothing more than pedal power.

The 30-year-old adventurer decided China -- the land of cycles -- was the obvious starting point for marathon ride to raise money for a cancer charity.

The first 8,000 km of his journey has seen Rogerson -- known to his friends as "Rogo" -- cycling along the Great Wall of China and across the Gobi desert, crossing Kazhakstan, Kyrgzstan and Tajikistan in Central Asia in aid of a blood cancer charity in his home city of Liverpool, the Anthony Nolan Trust.

The next half of his journey takes in Iran as he crosses the Middle East towards mainland Europe.

Rogerson was granted five months' leave from his job as an auto electrician at the Jaguar Land Rover auto plant in Liverpool.

Without any extensive training, Rogerson set off from Chery, near Shanghai on May 5, aiming to reach the Jaguar Land Rover in Liverpool in October.

He is currently travelling across Central Area's Uzbekistan dry, mountainous area with its vast deserts.

Rogerson's arrival on his ordinary everyday bicycle has been met with bemusement by locals, many wanting to take photographs and talk to him about his unusual task.

He said in a message to his supporters in Liverpool: "Everyone is so supportive and interested in what I'm doing. The other day, in Kyrgzstan, I called in to a shop for an ice cream cone and ended up enjoying shots of vodka with local people! The encouragement I've received is phenomenal."

Already a charity fundraiser, Rogerson was inspired to take on his biggest ever challenge when the four-years-old son of a close friend was diagnosed with leukaemia and in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

Added Rogerson: "The first month was gruelling as I experienced difficult weather conditions, camping alone in the wilderness for some nights and even being chased by wild dogs across the Chinese landscape."

At the border with Kazakhstan he was almost refused entry as his dramatic weight loss during the intense journey, caused authorities to question the photograph of him on his British passport.

His aim is to raise thousands of dollars for the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity raising funds for cancer research and victims.

Supporters are following Rogerson's epic journey via a blog he has created to document his adventure. Endit