A HERITAGE railway volunteer is staging a walking challenge to raise funds for his initiative.

Ken Monkman helps at Wensleydale Railway, but in addition to working for free for the popular North Yorkshire service, he is also undertaking a walk every week in order to raise funds for the charity.

His hikes raise money for special projects such as the campaign to raise £1million to extend the railway line from Redmire to Aysgarth in the Yorkshire Dales.

He has walked just over 33 miles in the first month of his challenge, which has taken him to local beauty spots and nature trails. His latest walk took in Hardwick Hall Hotel near Durham and brought the total he has raised to date to £675.

Wensleydale Railway manager, Nigel Park, said: “Ken's commitment to the Wensleydale Railway is second-to-none and he is one of the army of ambassadors for the Wensleydale Railway who commit themselves each week to support us.

“It is especially good and typical of Ken to turn his passion for walking into a fundraiser, which will help in our efforts to extend the line to Aysgarth”.

Wensleydale Railway is one of the longest heritage railway routes in the country and operates a daily service in the main season between Leeming Bar and Redmire and twice a week extends to Northallerton.