A MOTHER who is walking the length of Britain in memory of her only son is making a 40-mile detour to pass through his former student city.

Susan Skillington's son, James, was two years into a chemistry degree at Newcastle University, when he contracted leukaemia and died, aged 22.

Usually, the 860-mile journey from John O'Groats to Land's End fellows the west coast.

But Mrs Skillington, who has been joined on the trek by four friends, is taking an easterly route so they pass through Newcastle.

The detour will add 40 miles to their eight-week walk.

She said: "James was such a keen sportsman, it seemed right for me do something active and challenging that would keep his memory alive.

"We really wanted to walk through Newcastle, as the city and the university had played such a big part in the last few years of his life."

James, who played for the university rugby team and supported Newcastle Falcons, died on August 1, last year, after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

The university awarded him a posthumous degree at a ceremony in July, where his girlfriend and fellow chemistry student, Phillippa Robinson, graduated.

Phillippa will join the walkers on the Newcastle section, together with Lindsey, James's sister. The group will visit Newcastle University, walking past a rowan tree planted in James' memory, near the Hancock Museum.

Students and staff will be waiting to greet them, along with members of the Newcastle Falcons rugby team.

Mrs Skillington, 49, and her friends, who are all from the Nottingham area, hope to raise at least £50,000 via sponsorship pledges for a charity set up in James's memory.

The James Skillington Challenge for Leukaemia will provide a scholarship to support students from less advantaged backgrounds wishing to study chemistry at Newcastle.

Anyone wishing to donate is asked to visit the website, www.jamesskillington.org.uk