A newspaper team donned their most comfortable walking shoes and put their best feet forward to raise £700 for its own meningitis appeal.

Ten editorial and commercial staff from the Gloucestershire Gazette walked 13 miles from their office in Dursley to Thornbury.

The trek took over five hours to complete and is part of an appeal launched by the Newsquest weekly in February to raise £40,000 to fund the work of a Meningitis UK vaccine researcher for one year.

The charity is celebrating its tenth birthday this year after being set up by Steve and Gloria Dayman, from Alveston near Bristol, following the death of their 14-month-old son Spencer to the disease.

Gazette reporter Liza-Jane Gillespie, who co-organised the fundraiser, said: “The walk went really well and the weather held, which helped. Despite the aching muscles on Monday it was well worth the effort.

“We’ve raised a good amount for the appeal, which we know the charity will make good use of.”