THE last of 2,000 Catholics who embarked on a pilgrimage arrived home last night, after a trip fraught with difficulty.

Catholics from throughout the Middlesbrough diocese, stretching from the River Tees to the Humber, and the North Sea to the Pennines, set off for Lourdes on May 25.

For 300, who had chosen to travel by plane, the journey coincided with the busiest day in the history of Teesside Airport.

They feared they would never leave the North-East when technical problems led to an 11-hour delay.

Dr Jim Whiston, spokesman for Middlesbrough's Bishop John Crowley, said: "The pilgrimage was delayed when Airtours had to fly the plane to Manchester to carry out repairs.

"The pilgrims coped with the situation very well. A lot of the youngsters got their guitars out, and the airport and Airtours staff looked after them well. They finally met up with the other schoolchildren and parishioners who had opted for coach travel to Lourdes, tired but not discouraged from their mission.

Dr Whiston said: "A lot of the sick went and the youngsters went to help them.

"Others went to pray and support the sick.

"We rarely get miracles. But people came back in good spirits and renewed, and that's what it's about."