Ref. 28809-24A FITNESS enthusiast is to show his sensitive side by raising cash for abused monkeys.

Leon Moore, who lives in Colebrook Road, Coleview, was so upset after watching a Christmas documentary on monkey cruelty that he decided to do something about it.

Now Leon, 27, who is a regular at Cannons Health Club on Greenbridge Retail Park, is planning a gruelling challenge in April, which will include: swimming 50 lengths of the gym's pool, a five mile run, a 10-mile cycle ride, and, in the gym, a squat with a two-tonne weight, a bench press with a two-tonne weight and 500 sit-ups.

He then plans a 25 length "warm down" in the pool.

Leon is preparing for the challenge by cramming himself with his favourite high-energy food bananas.

"They are a great source of energy, because they release carbohydrates slowly," he said.

He works at furniture store That Shop in Gorse Hill by day. He also works occasional nights as a doorman at New World Chinese restaurant in Regent Circus.

He believes monkeys need our protection.

"They are supposed to be close ancestors but we treat them appallingly I just wanted to do something to help them," he said.

So far, the strongman has raised almost half of his £1,000 sponsorship target.

All money raised will go to Monkey World a Dorset-based charity, which works closely with governments to stamp out cruelty to apes and monkeys.

Monkey World at Wool, near Wareham is home to rescued primates from scientific laboratories and from countries like Spain where they are exploited for tourism.