TWO teenagers are taking part in a 600-mile fundraising journey to raise the awareness of being disabled after being inspired by the words of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.

The lyrics "Feel like falling in love with the first woman I meet/Putting her in a wheelbarrow and wheeling her down the street" have prompted Rachael Chanarin, 17, and Katie Houston, 18, to embark on a marathon journey from their homes in Dumfries to London.

The pair - who stopped off in Stockton, Teesside, yesterday - decided to ditch the wheelbarrow and take it in turns to push one another in a wheelchair to highlight the problems of disabled people.

The teenagers' 51-day sponsored trip has so far raised more than £3,000 for the British Red Cross in Afghanistan and if all goes to plan they hope to be at Big Ben by May 6.

"Most of the time we both walk, but when one of us needs a rest we get in the wheelchair and get pushed," said Rachael. "But often it's too difficult to use the wheelchair, which has really made us realise how hard it must be for disabled people."

Mary Hope, of Durham Road, Stockton, contacted the girls and offered them a bed for the night after reading about their fundraising trip in a newspaper.

"They are from the same area as me originally and I just thought they were doing such a nice thing. They are lovely girls."