A YOUNG woman has raised more than £2,800 for charity by going on a ten-day trek across New Zealand with TV celebrity Linda Robson.

Rachel Butler, 18, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, raised the cash for The Children's Society, which works with some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the country.

She was among more than 50 people on the trek, including Robson -better known as Birds of a Feather's Tracey Stubbs - to take part in the trek along the South Island.

In total, trekkers raised more than £132,000 for the charity's work in England.

Rachel said: "This seemed the perfect time to take part in the Children's Society trek, as I've just finished my A-levels and I am taking a year off before university. The trek was hard work and it was great to have Linda sharing such a fantastic experience.

"Our final day took us up Mount Fyffe, which overlooks the Kaikoura Peninsular, and with the shimmering blue green waters of the Pacific below it was a stunning climb to the top. That was a highlight for me, along with swimming with the dolphins before the end of the trek."

Rachel, who was sponsored by family and friends, organised a raffle and a car boot sale to fund the trek.