Four plucky Byker Bridge residents are enjoying a well-earned rest after completing the 10k walk to St Mary’s lighthouse – and raising money in the process.

Jimmy Bell from Hebburn had concerns about the weather, as the previous day had been a washout. Thankfully he had nothing to fear – as we lined up at The Parks Sports Centre for registration the sky was bright and blue.

Armed with regulation water and banana, Raymond Close of Whitley Bay went off like a whippet; while Jason Granger of Forest Hall fame chose the more relaxed approach.

The walk led us staff members down to the fish quay, up past Lord Collingwood  and the priory where we got our first sighting of the far-away lighthouse.

Encouraged onwards by the friendly stewards and the cheery nature of Bobby McArdle we reached the end of the trail in a respectable two and a half hours. Of course it wasn’t a race but we were dead chuffed to discover Raymond had been the first of the thousand striders to cross the finishing line.

Well done Raymond. Well done Isobel Violet of the Joseph Cowen Health Centre. Well done everyone who took part. And a big THANKYOU to GT Contracts and Orchard for supporting us.

Simon Campbell.