A DURHAM University student has spoken of his poignant 950 mile journey on foot to the Somme battlefields.

Jordan Blunsom, 22, walked more than 30 miles a day over 31 days, raising cash for the veterans’ charity Walking with the Wounded.

On his return to Durham, he hopes to become involved in The Northern Echo campaign to raise £20,000 to creating a lasting memorial to members of the Durham Light Infantry who died on the Somme.

He arrived at the battlefields just in time to take part in the 100th anniversary commemorations of the bloodiest battle of the First World War - having taken around 1,900,000 steps in the process.

"The walk was very strenuous. It was a fantastic journey and one that really broadened my horizons as to the actual human sacrifice of the conflict," he said.

"Arriving in the region itself was really humbling. I will never forget seeing Thiepval Memorial for the first time.

"As you walk towards from Albert, it you walk up the hill that the Allies would have attacked from.

"The clouds were very brooding and I just saw the memorial poking out of the treeline, surrounded by cornfields interspersed with poppies and cornflowers. It was very special and very moving."

Jordan - who coordinated and managed the planning of the walk himself - embarked on the epic trek from Durham University’s Palace Green Library, which is hosting a major exhibition ‘Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front’.

To make a donation toward The Northern Echo’s appeal either go to crowdfunding.justgiving.com/sommememorial and make a pledge, or send a cheque made payable to Former Charities of the Durham Light Infantry to The Rifles Durham Office, Elvet Waterside, Durham DH1 3BW.