TWO friends walked 250 miles in five days to raise more than £3,200 in tribute to a much-loved grandad.

Coleford duo Josh Winstone and John Fletcher set off at 6am each day from Coleford Clock Tower to walk 50 miles in there-and-back and circular routes in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The marathon hike was in tribute to Josh’s granddad Eric Russell, a former long distance lorry driver, who passed away exactly a year ago, and they were joined along the way by Josh’s mum and Eric’s daughter Jane Tillings.

Heavy rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the duo who finally finished their epic challenge at 4.30pm on Friday, May 19.

Dad-of-two Josh, 26, who works at Travis Perkins in Lydney, said: “We mixed the routes up through the week walking to Ross-on-Wye, the Severn Bridge and cycle tracks around the Forest.

“Wednesday was the worst day for weather and was almost a wash out until Rockets Gym in Coleford allowed us to use their treadmills to complete our miles. It rained so much I was on my third set of clothing by 10am.”

He said dad-of-two John, 29, who works in the Co-op in Lydney, was in the wars throughout the week, slipping down a bank, being hit by a car wing mirror and suffering from shin splints in both legs.

“He was in a lot of pain and went to the Dilke Hospital on Wednesday morning and they told him to rest for three weeks, but he set off again, determined to finish,” said Josh. “He showed a lot of mental toughness.

“It was tiring, but we’ve been training for a year, doing walks at 3am in the morning and it helped us through.

“The finish was really emotional because I did it for granddad, and because of all the things that had happened to John. Even my poor mum walked with a tweaked hamstring, having damaged it the week before while out running, but we’re very proud to have finished.”

The duo had plenty of support along the way with people joining them on the walks, including football mates at Milkwall FC and Cinderford six-a-side league, while Sarah Teague gave the duo a much-needed massage.

A raffle in aid of the BHF was also drawn last weekend for prizes donated by Manchester United, Travis Perkins, Guy Woodland, Helen Snowdon, Patricia Barnett, Stuart Jenkins, Emma Sargent, John Fletcher, April Jenkins, Lydney Co-op and Jane Tillings.

If anyone wants to donate for the walk, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Josh-Winstone1