Paul Albert chose some sticky conditions in Romford Market to prepare for his fundraising climb of Mount Kilimanjaro next week.

He sat in a bath of rice pudding from 10.30am-3pm to raise almost £600 for the local St Francis Hospice, which cared for his grandfather Harry Cohen in the final weeks of his life.

St Francis will also be the beneficiary of his African adventure as a thank-you for the “amazing support” of its staff and volunteers to Mr Cohen — who chaired Ilford Ajex — and his relatives. “The money I raise will ensure that more families get support when they most need it.”

Mr Albert lives in St Albans and works for the Charity Challenge travel company.

His brother Simon climbed Kilimanjaro 10 years ago “and I have wanted to climb it ever since. I am a bit nervous but looking forward to it.” No stranger to unconventional bathing, he took a baked bean bath two years ago to raise funds for a trip to Africa to build homes for Aids orphans.