AN official who helps keep the county's footpaths clear has started a nine-month sponsored walk to raise money for a children's scientific expedition to Egypt.

Elaine Field, 48, a Durham County Council rights of way officer, will spend the next nine months walking to and from work at County Hall in Durham.

Three days a week - on the other two days she has to be out on site - the car remains in the garage of her Newton Hall home and she makes the journey to work on foot.

Ms Field, a mother-of-four, is making the effort to help raise the £40,000 needed to send 23 Framwellgate School students, including her children, Keith, 17, and Heather, 15, on Operation Wallacea next July.

During the first week of the trip, the students will conduct research at the St Katherine's Protectorate in South Sinai and will spend the second week at the Ras Mohammed Marine National Park.

The trip is still on at the moment, despite the recent terrorist bombings in Egypt.

Ms Field, a former teacher, said of her sponsored walking: "As a rights of way officer, it seemed the obvious thing to do.

"It ties in well with the need to reduce our reliance on the car, using public transport and walking more."

Walking to work will increase her journey time by more than an hour a day, but she expects the payoff to be increased fitness from covering at least 500 miles, as well as raising about £1,000 from colleagues at County Hall.

Biology teacher Andrew Gargett said: "It's going to be a fabulous experience and will put them in a strong position when applying to universities and employers.''

Students are also doing their own fundraising, including a bag pack and a planned battle of the bands, and received support from the Esh Group and Bowey Homes.