KENT NEWS: A former teacher riding a motorbike around Africa in a charity challenge has narrowly escaped injury after armed bandits opened on him near a border crossing. 

Spencer Conway, 42, from Biddenden, set off on the 25,000-mile trip in November.

He is aiming to ride through 28 countries to raise £40,000 for the Save the Children charity.

The bandits opened fire on him on a difficult stretch of road between Marsabit and Isiolo, on the Kenya/Tanzania border.

He escaped injury and got away from the gunmen, but his bike was badly damaged.

Mr Conway tried to ride on but was forced to abandon his vehicle after another 43 miles when the rear wheel collapsed.

He walked to a nearby Catholic mission, where a priest arranged for his bike to be collected and repaired.

The attack on the former Kent teacher took place on January 5 but details had not been released until now.

Mr Conway is nearing halfway in his solo circumnavigation of the continent.