AROUND a dozen members of Woolaston Methodist Church welcomed retired minister John Beardsley as he finished a 200-mile charity walk in the village.

They had a hot cup of tea and specially-baked celebration cake to mark the end of the walk between the 48 Methodist churches in Gloucestershire.

The walk in aid of Methodist Homes started at Hawling in the Cotswolds at the beginning of September and finished last Friday at Woolaston, the most westerly point in the Gloucestershire Methodist circuit.

The day started in Lydney and took in Aylburton before ending in Woolaston where church treasurer Liz Lander baked and decorated a Victoria sponge.

Mr Beardsley of Tewkesbury, said, "In the Forest I have seen roadside verges churned up by wild boar, but I haven't actually seen any of them.

"In Cinderford I arrived at a "Messy Church" for around 100 youngsters. My thanks to everyone for their warm welcome."

Mr Beardsley is hopeful of beating his £1,000 target for Methodist Homes which has a branch in Gloucester which specialises in caring for people with dementia.