A MAN from Sticklepath proved age was no barrier when he completed a mammoth walking challenge on his 70th birthday.

Alan Wright clocked up more than 1,000-miles by finishing a charity walk from Lands End to John O Groats, which took him 86 days to complete.

The walking-enthusiast split the journey into four stages throughout the year and crossed the finish line on May 7, the same day he celebrated his 70th birthday.

From undertaking the gruelling 1,230-mile trek, energetic Alan has raised £2,000 for Children’s Hospice South West — a charity which provides care and support for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Alan said: ‘I stopped off to visit the hospice in Barnstable on route. They are the most fantastic charity and I am so pleased to have raised some money for them.

‘When I crossed the finish line there was a mix of feeling fantastic with a sense of relief.’

Alan, who lived in South Tawton for 20 years before moving to Sticklepath, said that donations were still coming in and that that the money raised would benefit a wonderful charity.

During the first phase of his challenge, Alan walked 330-miles from Lands End to Monmouth.The next phase was from Monmouth to Standedge, where Alan completed 220-miles in 15 days, however the phase was shortened due to a back injury.

The third phase was from Standedge to Milngavie and the final stage, which he started in April, was from Milngavie to John O’Groats.

Throughout the journey, Alan averaged a walking distance of 14-miles per day.

During the last phase, Alan was also joined by his wife and four close friends who crossed the the finish line with him on the day he had planned to complete the challenge.

Alan joked: ‘While I enjoyed it and the end feeling was fantastic — I somehow don’t think I’ll be doing it again! ‘