A GYMNASTICS coach who decided to tackle a 97-mile coast-to-coast walk to raise funds for the club has returned home with £3,000 and a few blisters.

Brian Everett, from Darlington, encountered steep hills hailstones, snow and dozens of stiles and sheep gates during his five-day walk from Wallsend, in North Tyneside to Silloth, in Cumbria.

The 69-year-old coach and vice president of Darlington Gymnastics Club wanted to complete the sponsored walk to raise some of the £5,000 needed for equipment to improve facilities.

As well as the £3,000 already pledged, leading supplier Gymnova has offered specialist equipment in lieu of the money.

"The walk was definitely worth it. It was challenging and every day was different," he said.

"The thought of raising the sponsorship for the kids was the greatest motivator to completing the walk."

Despite returning home late on Saturday, Mr Everett was up early on Sunday to take a team of gymnasts to the North of England Gymnastics Floor and Vault Championships, in South Shields.

Competing against 200 other girls and boys from 12 clubs in the region, the Darlington team won two gold, two silver and a bronze medal.

Winners were: Hannah Smith, Individual Gold in Club under 12 (girls), Peter Piccau, Individual Silver in Club under 12 (boys), Josh Giblin, Individual Silver in Club under 10 (boys) and Victoria James, Individual Bronze in Club over 12 (girls).

Susan Bowes, Laura Pattison, Sarah Taylor and Victoria James won Team Gold in Club over 12 (girls).

Also representing Darlington were Samantha Corner, Laura Oliver, Kathryn Binks, Ashleigh Moss and Abigail Johnson.