Real-life Wallace and Gromit go on motorbike 10k

A biker is riding from England to Nepal with his goggle-wearing dog in a sidecar in an echo of Wallace and Gromit's A Close Shave.

Fine art photographer Daniele Longo, 45, from Rome, and border collie-Alsation cross Haku are setting off from Kent this week after a plan to sail the globe was thwarted 13 years ago.

The much-loved 1995 stop-motion film by Aardman Animations sees its heroes run a window cleaning business and get embroiled in adventures including romance and sheep rustling.

But Daniele said his adventure with his canine pal would be even better than Wallace and Gromit, adding: "It's Daniele and Haku!"

The plan is to film their 10,000 mile odyssey on an SWM Urban 525 and document it online.

First they will travel to Rome, from either Folkestone or Dover, on a journey Daniele expects to take 30 days.

In Rome he will raise more funds for the next leg before heading east to Asia before the end of the year.

On leaving the eternal city, the pair will head to Slovenia, cross through Croatia and head south to Greece.

Because of the war in Iran, they will go through Azerbaijan, across the Caspian Sea, through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan before reaching China and heading to Nepal.

As a young dog, Haku liked surfing and long walks, but age has made him less mobile - which is how Daniele's sidecar idea came about.

"Haku has been a rock by my side during the toughest times of my life and that's why I wanted to carry him now," he said.

"He's the best companion I could ever have."

Daniele spent three years restoring a boat to sail to New Zealand but it never left the harbour because of family problems.

A second attempt to travel the world, this time in an RV, was foiled by the Covid pandemic.

He did eventually travel to New Zealand though, which is where he got Haku.

He spent the past few months adapting the motorbike's sidecar for his pet.

He said: "The first few days it was a bit of an adjustment but now he loves the goggles.

"Or, as we like to call them, doggles."

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.