THREE Gargrave pensioners have completed a 425-kilometre walk from Lucca to Rome.

James Enever, 66, his wife, Dagmar Akselsson, 67, and neighbour Katy Moore, 67, were fulfilling a dream.

"We wanted to challenge ourselves before we got too old and a pilgrim walk seemed appropriate," said James.

"Being in our late 60s means we have the time. Dagmar and I walked to Santiago de Compostela some years ago and found the walk spiritually uplifting. We felt that another pilgrim walk would be good for us and Katy decided to join us.

"Her challenge was to donate £1 for every mile she walked to Manorlands Hospice."

This time they opted to follow an old pilgrim route called the Via Francigena which goes from Canterbury to Rome and walked up to 18 miles a day.

They chose Lucca as the starting point as they could fly to nearby Pisa from Leeds-Bradford Airport.

James added: "It is something we have been planning for some time, but it was tough at times. At the beginning it was 30 degrees and this meant carrying 2kg water. We have all had minor ailments but kept going.

"Some days we climbed 2,000ft, others we walked up to 18 miles in a day. We carried everything we needed on our backs. Bad maps and bad route signs were a constant problem but the kindness of the Italian people everywhere was overwhelming."

Speaking after arriving in Rome, James said: "We are a little tired and looking forward to sleeping more than one night in the same bed.

"It becomes almost a way of life. Walking then mid-afternoon arriving, a shower, washing your clothes, buying water and food for tomorrow's picnic,writing our diary, in my case a sketch, going out for dinner and bed."