Bermudian Mr. DeCouto has spent a week on an area four feet by six feet on the interstate highway leading into Jackson, Tennessee.

By yesterday evening he had received pledges of $18,600 plus promises of land for the Habitat for Humanity scheme.

He said: "I do not feel too bad but I am looking forward to getting down. I am glad it is nearing the end.

"I have managed two or three hours sleep every night but I have been too busy speaking to radio stations, the TV and newspapers to feel tired by this.

"The weather has not been great. It is about 56 degrees and it has just stopped raining.'' Mr. DeCouto's idea was to get publicity for Habitat, where he has worked for two years. The charity builds homes across the United States and into Venezuela.

He has spent his time getting phone pledges and waving to the estimated 200,000 motorists who have passed him each day.

Former Saltus student, Mr. DeCouto, 28, said moved from Bermuda with his parents Mr. Gerry and Mrs. Mary DeCouto to Florida. He studied in the US before finding work with Habitat.