A CHURCH leader says he is getting into the rhythm of a near 80-mile trek across his diocese.

The Right Rev John Crowley, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough, is today approaching the halfway mark in his walk from Hull, through Hornsea, Bridlington, Scarborough and Whitby, and on to Egton Bridge, Staithes and Saltburn, finishing at St Mary's Cathedral, in Middlesbrough, on Saturday.

The 65-year-old bishop, who is covering the diocese in daily ten-mile stretches, spoke during a brief halt at Bridlington yesterday:

"My spirits are still bubbling away after starting the trek on Sunday. It's a marvellous experience and my feet and legs are surprisingly holding up very well," he said.

He and a 21-strong core group of fellow trekkers are on a walk celebrating life and praying for more vocations to the priesthood.

Each day's walk ends with a Mass focusing on one of the seven sacraments - baptism, confirmation, reconciliation, Mass, ordination, the Sacrament of the Sick and marriage.

The bishop revealed even when the walk has been completed, he will only be able to put his feet up for a few hours before he joins other pilgrims in a half-mile climb to the hilltop shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace, above Osmotherley, Northallerton, for the annual Mass of celebrating the Assumption, on Sunday.

"I always walk up to the chapel. It's part of a great pilgrimage," he said.