TWO hiking heroes have been celebrating after conquering Hadrian's Wall on a mammoth charity walk.

Pals Sue Kemp and Angie Kelly took on the challenge to walk 26 miles in a single day following the wall from Northumbria to Cumbria in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sue, who is the business manager at Sedgley Park Primary School in Prestwich, received a hero's welcome when she arrived to start the new school year last Thursday and she thanked colleagues and pupils for their support.

"It was a really tough walk, but Angie spurred me on and to have the backing of all the children and staff at school has been wonderful."

Sue, aged 52, of Penrhyn Drive, Prestwich, goes walking most weekends with friend Angie, aged 49, of Salford.

Angie, who works for a media firm in Salford, persuaded Sue to have a go at the Mighty Hike walk, and they took the plunge on August 15.

It was an early start, as the pair set out by coach at 6am for the starting line at Humshaugh, seven miles north of Hexham.

They then set off on foot, following the wall west and crossed the finish line near Brampton in Cumbria 11 hours later.

Sue said: "It was pretty hard going. We had three breaks along the way, at the five, 12 and 17-mile marks.

"A lot of it was up and down hill and it was windy at times, though the weather behaved itself mostly.

"We were both so shattered by the end that we could barely get up on the podium by the time we finished."

One of the things that spurred on the duo was the support they received from the school, which held a raffle.

They have so far raised £1,419 for the charity, which supported Sue's family when her father, John Madden, died of cancer 10 years ago.

She added: "The charity does a wonderful job and deserves all the help it can get. We're both delighted with how much money we have raised."

To donate: visit justgiving.com/sue-kemp3