NOT many people turn up at a police station begging to be locked up for the night.

But for Jean Beliveau, halfway through a 12-year, 50,000-mile walk round the world, anywhere with four walls and a roof is luxury.

Unfortunately for Mr Beliveau, the cells at Darlington police station were full - so he slept at the nearby fire station instead.

Mr Beliveau, 50, from Vancouver, Canada, arrived in the town on Thursday night and left for Thirsk on Friday morning.

His three-wheel buggy, which carries his few possessions, was swelled with a County Durham Fire Service T-shirt, cap, and cufflinks.

"The people I meet on the way keep me going," said Mr Beliveau. "It's a big chain of people, all around the world, pushing me on."

John Walkden, manager of the green watch at Darlington fire station, said: "We are so humbled by his achievements - we are in awe of him. It's nice that we were able to give him some support."

Mr Beliveau's adventure started in Montreal on August 18, 2000 - his 45th birthday.

Since then, he has walked across North and South America, before travelling to South Africa.

While in Durban, the mayor introduced him to another special guest - Nelson Mandela.

"That was an amazing moment," said Mr Beliveau, who proudly keeps the photo in a scrapbook of his journey.

Mr Beliveau walked up the east coast of Africa, along the north coast to Morocco, and crossed into Europe.

He arrived in Britain after crossing Spain, France, and Ireland - and says that nowhere has been more welcoming.

"England is my favourite place," he said. "Everyone here is so kind and supportive - I love them.

"I would like to say thank you for all the love and help I have had."

Mr Beliveau decided to walk round the world to mark the United Nations decade for children's peace - yet it was children who almost caused him to give up.

"When I was in Ethiopia, there would be hundreds of children everywhere I went, asking for money," he said.

"I was tired, missing home and thought, 'I can't do this', but when I e-mailed my wife she wrote back to say I must go on."

Mr Beliveau is expected to meet the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, in York, and will appear on BBC alongside Sharon Osbourne later this month.

To honour his television appointment, he is getting the train from York to London, but will then catch a train back so he can complete the same journey on foot.

For more information on the walk, visit www.wwwalk.org