SEAMSTRESS Rachel Sleeman has caught the walking bug after tramping 22 miles in a sponsored trek - without any training.

"I'm into fitness, going to the gym at Saltburn Leisure Centre four times a week, but I'd never walked more than a few miles at a time before," said Ms Sleeman, 33, who runs a clothing alterations shop in Milton Street, Saltburn.

"Customers, my family and other shopkeepers have contributed £69 for the Cleveland Search and Rescue.

"I took six-and-a-half hours and came 15th out of 92 on the walk, from Whitby to Marske, last Sunday," said the mother-of-two, who lives at Marske.

She hopes to improve on the time on a 20-mile walk on the North York Moors in July, for the same charity.

Meanwhile, Saltburn butcher Garry Roper, 41, raised £500 for Saltburn Animal Rescue Association by taking part in in the Paris Marathon.

"I did it for fun and don't know how I came among the 35,000 runners. It took 4hr 45min and I felt great afterwards," he said. "I'm not a runner, it was a one-off."

Mr Roper raised the money through customers and friends at the Victoria pub, Saltburn.