A GROUP of pilgrims made their way from Madley to Hereford Cathedral to raise money for a church roof.

Nine adults and three children walked the seven miles from Madley church to the cathedral on Pentecost Sunday.

They arrived in time for the Thy Kingdom Come beacon event at the cathedral - Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ.

John Dinnen, who organised the walk, said: "A lot of Madley church was built over 700 years ago and so there are several areas that need attention.

"Madley church is very large. There was a statue of the Virgin Mary here in medieval times. Pilgrims would come to Madley church and the donations of the pilgrims were used to enlarge the church.

"At the time of the reformation the statue was destroyed unfortunately."

There is a document from 1318 which is in the cathedral's archives referring to the money collected from pilgrims.

The theme of Thy Kingdom Come this year was pilgrimage.

Along the way the pilgrims stopped at churches in Eaton Bishop and Clehonger for quiet prayer and reflection.

Mr Dinnen was joined on the walk by the Johnson family, Carol Ede and her grandson, Roger and Wendy Knight, Sam Morgan, Barbara Llewellyn-Samuel and Peter Garlick.

The 13th century church in Madley is currently aiming to raise £750,000 for full restoration of the roof - some funding will be granted by church conservation trusts.

So far the pilgrims have raised £1,000 from their walk and thanked everyone who donated.