A seasoned hitchhiker is taking on a 5,000 mile journey in just six weeks, armed only with cans of beer.

Emmanuel "Manny" Marshall, 42, has been enlisted by Scottish brewers Innis & Gunn for the hitchhike of all hitchhikes.

He set off from Edinburgh on Wednesday and aims to be in Delhi, India's capital city, by mid-October, using his cans of the brewer's India Pale Ale (IPA) as currency along the way.

Mr Marshall, who has been travelling almost constantly for the last 10 years, and the author of the Travel Hackers Handbook, was the ideal choice to make the journey.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Mr Marshall never spends much time in the same place due to his love for globetrotting.

Offering the cans of IPA as payment, Mr Marshall will rely on the generosity of others to get lifts from drivers and beds for the night along the way.

The journey is being undertaken as an homage to the 18th-century brewers of IPA that sent the beers on six-month-long sea journeys from Britain to India.

Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn, said: "The IPA is one of the most distinctive styles of beer and it is loved and practically worshipped in many parts of the world.

"We set out to create an IPA that nods to the 18th century pioneers of the style, while showcasing our innovation and passion for creating flavoursome, modern beers.

"The trip to India using this modern route is a perfect metaphor for what we've managed to do with our IPA: we've studied the brewers of old and created something new and contemporary for beer drinkers across the world."

Speaking before he set off on his journey from Edinburgh to Delhi, India, Manny said: "This is a trip of a lifetime.

"I've been hitchhiking for a long time now and I've seen how beer brings people together in many countries around the world.

"I'm looking forward to sharing this new IPA with the generous strangers I meet along the way.

"The trip to India is going to be amazing. It's a chance for me to challenge myself and I'm really stoked about sharing my story with many people from all walks of life."

You can follow the progress on his journey by keeping up with the #IPAtoIndia hashtag on social media.