A journalism lecturer and former regional press journalist is half way towards his target of raising £10,000 for an autism project after a 33-mile walk last weekend.

Dave Welford, who teaches newspaper journalism at Nottingham Trent University, is raising cash cash for a local charity which wants to build a garden centre and cafe to be run by autistic school-leavers.

The former Derby Evening Telegraph district editor walked the 33.3mile distance from Bamford in North Derbyshire to the mid-Derbyshire town of Belper with his 17-year-old son Lenny who is himself autistic.

The pair raised nearly £5,000 from the walk, which followed the course of the River Derwent, and are hoping to hit their target by September.

Dave said the last few miles were “a bit painful” but that he and Lenny “soon bounced back.”

He is still seeking donations for the project which is the brainchild of the Derbyshire County Council-run autism centre for children based in Holbrook, near Belper.

“I’m sure there are loads of former colleagues and students out there who would love to sponsor me,” he told HTFP.