A SQUAD of soldiers is spending Easter in the Lake District, and on the Dales and North York Moors, but it's unlikely they'll have much time for fun.

The 24 members of 10 Signal Regiment volunteered to complete the coast-to-coast walk in aid of the NSPCC -- carrying a 38kg log.

"We started with the idea of carrying two logs between us, but it proved impractical in the end," said Lance Corporal Brain Clarke.

"Nevertheless, there have been some sore shoulders developing over the past few days and it was tough dragging a single log over some of the terrain in the Lake District."

The party, which includes Corporal John Blowes, from Ferryhill, County Durham, passed through Swaledale en route from Keld to Richmond yesterday and can look forward to some flatter ground between Richmond and Ingleby Cross today.

They plan to complete the trek, arriving at Robin Hood's Bay on Tuesday, by when they hope to have raised £3,000.