A newspaper reporter has raised more than £5,000 in memory of his dad by completing a challenge that saw him visit 100 sports grounds in 100 hours.

Adam Lord, a reporter on The Visitor newspaper in Morecambe, Lancashire ended his Groundhop 100 challenge at the weekend at the town’s Globe arena for the team’s game against Hereford.

Taking part in the six-day, 3000 mile challenge with him were friends John Ferguson, David Murphy and James Dick.

The group drove from stadium-to-stadium in a Peugeot 308, which they also slept in. A tall order as they are around 6ft.

They survived on just a few hours sleep each night before setting off to their next destination. One night they where offered accomodation in a B&B in Torquay where they got three hours rest before heading off again.

The fundraising target was £5,000 with the current total standing at £5,470. Adam is confident they will hit £6,000.

All the money raised will go to St John’s Hospice in Lancaster, which treated Adam’s dad Simon, who died at the end of September at the age of 54 following a three year battle with cancer.

Said Adam: “We were overwhelmed by the reaction and the amount that people donated. I would definatley do something else for charity but wouldn’t do that again.”

The team concluded the challenge by attending the St John’s Hospice Fire and Ice Ball at the Globe arena.

Added Adam: “It was unforgettable. Saturday night was emotional but a perfect way to end it.”

Writing in his blog about the last day of the challenge, Adam said: “After a brief stop at Carlisle we headed down our final stop Morecambe FC, which was in fact ground 102, as we had added a couple in along the way.

“But let’s face it, GroundHop 102 doesn’t really have the same ring as GroundHop 100 does it?

“Sunshine bathed the Cumbrian hills as we travelled down to the Globe to a lovely welcome from family and friends.

“And with that, we’d done it. 102 grounds in 98 hours and 50 minutes, arriving back at just before 10am.”

The trip, which coincided with the Football League’s Help the Hospices week, started at Lancaster City’s Giant Axe and saw them visit Football League grounds, Wembley Stadium and Lord’s cricket ground.

They posted pictures from each stadium on Facebook.