RAF Flight Lieutenant Ross Chapman, who took to the air to raise funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign, is making good progress on his charity flight.

RAF Brize Norton's deputy senior air movements officer took off on Monday from the air base on the 2,200-mile journey to Cyprus.

His wife Sara took part in the OX5 run at Blenheim Palace earlier this year, and it was there they met Dale Harris and his daughter Mya, who cut the ribbon at the start of the race.

Four-year-old Mya was born with Spina Bifida and has already had six operations at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Flt Lt Chapman told the Oxford Mail he was on schedule in the four-seater Piper Warrior.

He said: "So far everything has gone really well and we are on schedule to make Mikonos by early afternoon today.

"The weather hasn't been a problem although it has been very windy at times.

"What has been really great is the support we have had from all the people on the ground - in fact the story is getting bigger with each stop we make. Everyone is keen to get involved and do whatever they can to make the flight a success.

"That's got to be good for the Oxford Children's Hospital charity, which is what this is all about at the end of the day."

The team, whose route has taken them over France, Italy, and mainland Greece, hope to reach their destination in Akrotiri by Monday afternoon.

Flt Lt Chapman added: "My daughter Daisy loves flying. She wanted to come on this trip, but I had to explain that we would be gone longer than an hour or two.

"I think she understood, but I'm really looking forward to seeing her when I get back."

With sponsorship from colleagues on the base, and added sponsorship from Excel Airways, Flt Lt Chapman hopes to raise more than £1,000.

He is not making the flight on his own - an RAF colleague is helping him with the outbound flight. He then plans to take a commercial flight back to the UK.

Bad weather delayed the plane's departure on Monday. Flt Lt Chapman said: "I managed to give up biting my nails five years ago but as thick fog enveloped the skies over Brize Norton I found myself having a nervous nibble.

"We had planned to leave at 10am but with the heavy fog looking like it would stay for a while we quickly rejigged the route and revised our departure time to closer to midday.