UNIVERSITY of Worcester staff have completed a gruelling charity trek along one of Britain's best known landmarks.

Despite a catalogue of injuries, nearly half of a 38 strong team managed to complete the Hadrian's Wall Walk challenge - a four day expedition from Segedunum, near Newcastle, to Bowness-on-Solway, to the west of Carlisle, earlier this month.

Staff pushed their bodies to the limit as they attempted to raise cash for the University’s chosen charity of the year for 2016, the Maggs Day Centre, a Worcester-based charity helping the city’s homeless.

Nine teams took part from a range of departments including facilities, finance, and from the University of Worcester Arena. They received help along the way from a support team from the university, made up of facilities staff and physiotherapists from the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science.

The university staff managed to cover the 85-mile distance in just over 72 hours, walking on average between 12 and 14 hours a day, with the walkers suffering blisters, sprained muscles and even hypothermia.

The challenge proved a success as the walkers managed to raise £5,570 for the centre, more than £500 over the team's original £5,000 target.

Tom Taylor, the university’s assistant director of security and operations, who played a big role in organising the event, said one member of staff was only convinced to pull out of the challenge when he was told he risked losing a toe if he continued.

“Emotions were a big part of the challenge because everybody had their highs and lows," Mr Taylor said.

“One minute they’d be crying, the next minute they were laughing and joking.

“But it was good to see how other colleagues helped them through it.

"If someone was feeling a bit low at the end of the day others would really rally round, cook them food and crack a few jokes. It increased morale.

“But to get up the next morning and do it all over again was very demanding, especially if you were carrying injuries.”

There is still time to make a donation to the University’s Hadrian’s Wall Walk by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/universityofworcester.