THREE committed Christians have raised more than £4,500 for youth work in Wiltshire by completing a 60-mile walk across Salisbury Plain.

Steve Dewar, 39, Dan Webb, 33, and James Vaughton, 41, of Wiltshire Youth for Christ, took on the 100-kilometre trek from Malmesbury Abbey to Salisbury Cathedral over 26 hours on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19.

The route took in Castle Combe, Bradford on Avon and the Kennet & Avon Canal towards Devizes.

The youth workers then turned south towards Market Lavington, where two friendly locals sponsored them, and up onto Salisbury Plain.

James, who is director of Wiltshire YFC, said: “The route probably took about 13 hours to walk on each day and we stopped overnight at Melksham.

“The Plain was open and it was fantastic to be able to walk across it on to Shrewton.

“By now the blisters were growing, the heat taking its toll and the legs aching. It was on to Winterbourne Stoke, although not until being chased by some local cows.”

From there, they headed south and then east towards the Woodfords and followed the River Avon into Salisbury, finishing at Salisbury Cathedral.

Wiltshire Youth for Christ is a faith-based youth organisation which is about seeing the lives of young people changed in Wiltshire.

They work in schools and communities delivering youth work, mentoring and support local community groups and churches with training.

They work with up to 150 young people every week, including pupils at the John O’Gaunt School and the Clarendon Academy in Trowbridge and St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, as well as Lavington School, a youth club at Potterne and pop-up cafes during the summer in Devizes and Trowbridge.

James added: “I’d like to say thank you to everyone who sponsored us, helping us to raise £4,500 for Wiltshire Youth for Christ’s work among young people.”

If you would like to sponsor the three you can do so at www.give.net/walkwilts2018

To find out more about the work of Wiltshire Youth for Christ go to www.wiltshireyfc.org.uk.

If people want to join, then please get in touch with James Vaughton at james@wiltshireyfc.org.uk or 01225 336055.