Charity walkers have praised the manager of a remote pub on the North York Moors after staff went out of their way to provide early morning sustenance to keep them going during an attempt on the gruelling Lyke Wake Walk.

Alex Waddington, 37, and Pete Morris, 30, from Manchester, were planning an unsupported attempt on the 42 mile walk from Osmotherley to Ravenscar, but did not want to be burdened with heavyweight supplies.

There were only two feasible refreshment stops and both would be closed when they passed.

But after Mr Waddington contacted The Lion pub at Blakey Ridge, manager Paul Crossland, agreed to put up emergency supplies including sandwiches and pork scratchings which they paid for in advance.

The pair travelled from Manchester and started their trek at half past midnight, reaching Blakey Ridge, 19 miles into the walk, at about 6.30am.

“By the time we saw The Lion on the horizon, we were feeling tired and cold, and morale was pretty low,” said Mr Waddington.

“Despite concerns that the sheep might get our goodies, the swag bag was sitting on a wall. It was a massive boost to stock up with more water and food. Without the pub’s assistance we really might have been struggling to finish.”

The walkers are hoping to raise £3,000 for cancer charities in memory of Mr Waddington’s father who died earlier this year.