Holt dad nears final stop on Land’s End to John O’Groats charity bus challenge

Mark Hammett left his home in Holt last Tuesday and set off for Land's End before boarding a series of buses up to the wilds of Scotland. He successfully reached John O'Groats and is now heading due south and is set to arrive back in Holt tomorrow afternoon.

The 46-year-old is heading to Lincoln today where he will stay overnight before setting off on his final leg back into Norfolk.

Throughout his travels he has been wearing specially printed t-shirts advertising his end to end trip in aid of North Norfolk Radio's Families First charity, and before setting off he had managed to smash his �1,000 fundraising target.

Speaking this afternoon from a bus bound for Hull he said his epic trip had gone well and his meticulously planned 2,501 mile journey had miraculously not suffered any hitches.

Mr Hammett said: 'I've gone all the way round Britain and not one bus has broken down or been late and I've not had one connection missed, it's quite amazing really.'

Mr Hammett had suffered a disappointment during his travels, however as his mobile phone was stolen just two days in while he was heading for Truro in Cornwall.

Luckily some friends in Land's End were able to sort out a replacement phone so he could keep in contact with wife Tracie, and the hiccup had a happy ending as the stolen mobile was handed in two days later and sent back to Holt.

Mr Hammett, a kitchen assistant at the Pepperpot restaurant in West Runton, said it was nice to reach John O'Groats and he had met plenty of well wishers along the way but he was looking forward to getting home.

He added: 'I'm starting to feel a bit shattered now and I have had enough of buses. But I have got to go to work on Wednesday so I'll be getting on one then.'

? Anyone wishing to support Mr Hammett can sign sponsor forms in the Pepperpot, Albert's fish bar and Feeney's newsagents in Holt, Roy Boys cafe and Claws 'n' Paws pet shop in Sheringham.