STEVE Harley is a Cockney Rebel with a cause.

Three days after finishing his extensive UK acoustic tour, he plays Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre on Saturday, October 12, Steve will be heading for Cambodia.

There he will take part in a 1,200 mile sponsored cycle ride to raise money for land mine victims.

And this from a man who admits he can't ride a bike!

"I had polio as a child so I cannot ride a bike as my right leg isn't strong enough to support me, I'd just fall over," says Steve.

"But the charity is providing me with a tandem and a guide to ride with me so as long as he remembers to rest the bike over to the left when we stop we'll be fine."

With a friend of his to guide him, Steve has been practising on a tandem he has got at home.

"It's one of those 1940s jobs, a real antique. We get some strange looks when we got out for the afternoon but I'm getting used to it."

With the tour underway, Steve has been forced to leave the tandem at home but he's still in training for the ride.

As a result, as well as the usual guitar cases and amps, Steve will be taking his exercise bike with him.

"I don't want to let anyone down," he says. "I have to raise a minimum of £2,500 to go on the trip but I've pledged to raise at least £10,000 if I can."

The money raised will go towards training mine clearance experts in this country who can then go to Cambodia and train local farmers how to clear their fields of the thousands of mines left over from years of war.

But before he can think about helping this worthwhile cause, Steve has the minor matter of an acoustic tour to take care of.

"I love touring," he says. "Of course, we do it in style these says, it's not like it was back in the Seventies when you'd sleep in the van. When we go on tour these days I just tell my travel agent to find me somewhere nice to stay."

Steve Harley is one of those people who reputation as a songwriter and performer has never quite achieved the recognition it deserves.

From the early days of Cockney Rebel and hits like Mr Soft, Judy Teen and, of course, Come Up and See Me, Steve Harley has proved himself to be a great British songwriter.

His current acoustic tour will feature many of his most famous songs.

"I am at my happiest on stage," he says.

"I could never stop enjoying playing live. You still get nervous when the tour is announced and the tickets go on sale, wondering if you'll sell out but once you are on the road, the whole thing takes on a life of its own and you start to relax."

Just as Steve is preparing for his bike ride, a major tour requires its own form of training.

"Singing is without doubt the toughest gig in the music business. A singer has real stress, you have to be controlled and it's a real case of mind over matter."

"I do a 40 minute warm up every day and if I can I'll chill out in the steam room at the hotel to prepare my voice."

As well as touring and songwriting, Harley has become a regular presenter with his own show on Radio Two.

Although you won't find Steve Harley's name cropping up in the charts too much these days he still attracts a wide audience.

"It's great," he says, "it's a very mixed audience from people who remember Cockney Rebel from the Seventies through to people in their 20s."

Steve Harley plays Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre on Saturday, October 12. Tickets priced £12.50 are available from the box office on 01254 380293.

To make a donation to Steve's charity bike ride, send a cheque to Mines Advisory Group,47 Newton Street, Manchester, M11FT and write Steve Harley on the back of your cheque