Determined James Whittleton has raised £1,000 for charity by walking 250 miles from Cleethorpes, in Lincolnshire, to his family home in Corsham.

Mr Whittleton, of Paul Street, took up the challenge to help the Royal National Institute for Blind People after his grandmother Lina Whittleton, who died aged 97, went blind in the last few years of her life.

The 32-year-old, who works for Swindon Council, was inspired by his grandmother’s active lifestyle and chose to start the walk from her Cleethorpes home, where he used to stay as a youngster.

He said: “Two years before she died she had become blind, but despite all of that she stayed active. She did a walk across the Humber Bridge when she was 95. My own walk was inspired by her being so active.

“Every summer as a youngster I recall going to stay at my grandparents’ home. They were the most ideal grandparents you could ask for, so doing this walk just seemed fitting to their memory.”

Mr Whittleton set out on May 26 and walked for five days, enjoyed a day of rest, walked for a further five days, followed by another day of rest, and then finally arrived in Corsham three days later. Along the way he slept in bed and breakfasts and camped out.

He added: “It was nice to see the changing landscape along my journey and I met some lovely people.

In the village of Everdon a pub landlord gave me £10 and a drink and he got me talking to some of the village’s older residents who gave donations too.

“I will be writing them a letter to say thank you as they were so generous even though they had never met me before.

“I finished on time with umpteen blisters and a farmer’s tan to be proud of. It has been fun and painful in about equal measure, but I’m glad I did it.”

He returned home last Wednesday night at 6pm and was welcomed by members of his family and girlfriend Elise Merker.

His father, John, 64, said: “I think it is absolutely fantastic what he has achieved and we feel very proud of him for walking so far. His grandmother would have thought it was lovely and would have shared a drink to celebrate.”

Friends and family rallied around to shore up sponsorship for the walk and the final amount raised has tipped over the £1,000 milestone.

Donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/james-whittleton.