A FIT young woman has sued the organisers of a Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme expedition after a lengthy walk made her feet sore.

Medical student Ula Heywood, 21, blamed her supervisor for allowing her to continue with the 50-mile trek.

Miss Heywood brought the action even though it was her decision to tackle the tough Gold Award without first attempting the bronze and silver stages.

She blamed supervisor Phil Murray for allowing her to continue the four-day, 50-mile yomp after complaining to him of sore feet.

But a judge dismissed her claim.

Newcastle County Court Judge Peter Bullock said: "At the end of the day, the claimant bit off more than she could chew in going straight away for the Gold Award, for which a very arduous expedition has to be undertaken."

Miss Heywood, now 21, was a sixth-former at Gosforth High School, in Newcastle, when she took part in the expedition.

After suffering pain, she was given sticks to help her walk on the second day by Mr Murray, but she pulled out after walking for 90 minutes on the third day and was later diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis.

Miss Heywood, now a student at Sheffield Medical School, claimed it was the responsibility of those in charge to advise her not to continue after she said she was in extreme pain.

After the case, Melanie Shooter, of Irwin Mitchell, legal representative for Miss Heywood, said: "Clearly, we are all very disappointed by this result. However, we must accept the court's decision. My client will now be trying to put this whole distressing event behind her and move on with her life."

Andrew Reade, North- East regional officer for the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme, said: "Clearly our assessors and supervisors have the best interests of young people at heart and it must be demoralising to them if such cases are brought against them and it can deter people from volunteering and the young people will suffer."