A TORY lord got on his feet and walked, to help jobless youngsters in the region.

Conservative peer Lord Bates trekked nearly 140 miles to raise £14,000 for Tomorrow’s People North-East, the regional branch of a national employment charity which helps unemployed young people into jobs, training or education.

Lord Bates, a former Langbaurgh MP who served as Paymaster General in John Major’s government, walked from Lindisfarne Priory, in Northumberland, to Durham Cathedral, in Durham City, in ten days, arriving shortly after 4.30pm yesterday.

Speaking from outside the cathedral, where he planned to attend Evensong, the 48- year-old said: “I’m not the fittest person, but it’s a great cause and I wanted to do something ambitious and difficult – for me at least.

“I’m sure some of the sponsors who pledged money by the mile did so because they never thought I’d get this far.”

Lord Bates, who lives in Durham City, is patron of Tomorrow’s People’s Working It Out project.

He said youth unemployment had risen 105 per cent in the North-East in the past year, creating what he called a “hidden crisis”.

“I’m a parent. I’ve got two children, aged 19 and 22. One has managed to get a job and the other is looking for a job.

For me, it’s personal.

“I’m inspired by Tomorrow’s People. If we actually get up there, get moving, take the initiative and pursue our dreams, then we can do remarkable things – and that’s what these young people are doing.”

Lord Bates’ route took in Alnwick Gardens, Tynemouth Priory and the Angel of the North.

The peer stopped overnight at bed and breakfasts and hotels, meeting youngsters, business people and talking at school assemblies along the route.

He said: “I’m delighted to have made it. It was supposed to be 110 miles, but we did about 137. We took a couple of wrong turns and detours. But it’s been a very worthwhile exercise.

The North-East has a fantastic hidden resource in its history and natural beauty.

We ought to do much more about selling it as a tourist location.”

Go to walkfortomorrow.org for more details.