HE puts Michael Palin to shame.

In just over 10 years, globe trotting geography teacher Matthew Bell has visited 55 countries and he's seen sights normally missed by those who follow the tourist trail.

But the 38-year-old deputy headteacher doesn't just travel to build up a library of photographs or video footage.

Matthew, who is deputy headteacher at North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham, brings back artefacts he can use in lessons.

His travels have also inspired a poetry book based on his trip to New Zealand and a book for students based on a memorable visit to China.

Matthew said: "I got the bug for travelling and i didn't just want to take photographs that could be discarded or put in the bottom of a drawer. I wanted to write some books and obtain some artefacts to enthuse the children. I quickly found it would support me in my assemblies and my lessons and i wouldn't be so reliant on the text books or the internet."

He said he likes his trips to be a combination of 'awe and wonder' inspired by the sights he sees and he also immerses himself in the culture of the places he visits. Matthew said his trip to China made a particularly big impression on him.

He said: "That's got such amazing physical and human geography and for a Western, white European it's as close as you're going to get to going to another planet. It really is different - the mentality, the ethos the architecture."

Matthew said as well as architectural wonders he's also seen some stunning natural sights on his trips around the world.

He said: "When I went to Lake Louise in Canada I was right next to a glacier and this glacier had an ice fall, while I was standing there. A block of ice fell down and this block of ice was huge. This ice rollled down the valley and knocked me clean off my feet."

Matthew is married to Nicola and the couple live in Congleton, Cheshire. He may have travelled extensively but there are places he'd still like to see. One in particular really is out of this world - the moon.

He said: "i think space tourism is becoming a little bit more available."

* Matthew's poetry book, NZ09 is available to buy at Amazon.