FEMALE staff from a supermarket were put through their paces by the Royal Marines in the name of charity yesterday.

The six women from the Asda branch, in Stanley, teamed up with six youngsters, preparing to join the armed services at Derwentside College's uniform services department, to run 12 miles to raise money for Willow Burn Hospice, in Lanchester.

There was no chance of easing off with three Royal Marines barking orders at them all the way from Hamsterley Mill back to Stanley.

"We're all absolutely shattered," said organiser Joyce Clark, from Asda, after the run.

"My legs no longer work and maybe they never will again.

"Mind you, we had a few laughs. One of the things we had to do to warm up was push trees for some reason, which was very surreal."

The group expects to raise hundreds of pounds when money pledged in sponsorship is collected