As director of the Holkham Estate, David Horton-Fawkes has a demanding job managing the complex business affairs of one of the jewels in the crown of north Norfolk.

Now he is undertaking a completely different sort of challenge to raise money for a charity which supports young carers.

To mark turning 50 this year, Mr Horton-Fawkes is aiming to complete four gruelling races.

He completed his first - the Bath Half Marathon, last month in a time of one hour and thirty four minutes.

Up next is the Mallorca Half Ironman, on May 14, which features a 1.2 mile swim; a 56 mile cycle ride and a 13 mile run.

On June 21 he will be taking on the Norfolk Superhero challenge, consisting one a one mile sea swim; four miles in a kayak; a 55 mile cycle ride and a seven mile run all in north Norfolk.

Mr Horton-Fawkes' final challenge will be a gruelling full ironman in Kalmar, Sweden, where he will be joined by Viscount Thomas Coke, owner of the Holkham Estate, in attempting to complete a 2.4 mile swim; a 112 mile cycle ride and a full marathon run.

It is all being done to raise money for the charity, Friends of Young Carers (Bath and North East Somerset).

The charity was formed in 2007 to raise awareness of the issues faced by young carers and to provide financial support for them.

Mr Horton-Fawkes, who is originally from Bath and still has family living in that area, said: 'I've always kept fit but I've never done anything like this before.

'You could say this is part of my mid-life crisis.'

Mr Horton-Fawkes, who turned 50 on March 6, has been training for two years.

Before then he had never swum front crawl.

He said: 'The training has made me feel much better physically and mentally and has helped me deal with the pressures of work better.

'My sister said she hopes I take up drinking and smoking and be normal like the rest of the family when this is all over.'

Mr Horton-Fawkes, who is aiming to raise at least £10,000 for Friends of Young Carers, added: 'This is one of those unfashionable charities that does really important work.

'More than 200,000 young people live in households where they are caring for someone else.

'The charity supports young people who look after others because of illness, frailty, disability, or problems with drugs and alcohol.'

To sponsor Mr Horton-Fawkes, visit www.justgiving.com/david-horton-fawkes.