TWO police officers have been inspired by Captain Tom to walk from Kidderminster to Wales to raise money for their fellow frontline workers in the NHS.

Kidderminster PCSOs Niall Ryland and Luke Holloway will attempt to trek the 63 miles to Abergavenny in 24 hours on Monday, July 27 in aid of NHS Charities Together.

Niall was originally due to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats - his latest annual fundraiser in memory of his dad who died of heart failure in 2017 - but training was put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The 38-year-old said: "I intended to do a fundraising event every year and initially 2020 was going to be me cycling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, then, Covid-19 happened.

"Lockdown ensued, training on the bike was a bust, and then at the peak of Covid being in the news, retired Captain Thomas Moore, a 99-year-old, started walking his back garden to raise money for the NHS at a time when there were significant fears that the health service was going to be strained beyond capacity during the pandemic.

"It gave me inspiration for a slightly different fundraiser to the one I had planned and one my colleagues, another PCSO, Luke Holloway said he wanted to join me."

The pair plan to set off from Kidderminster at midnight and hike through Worcester, past Malvern and into Hereford, before pushing over the Welsh border towards the Brecon Beacons.

Niall said: "According to Google Maps, it will take us just under 22 hours to walk it, but we’ll be taking short stops for food and hopefully an opportunity to recharge phone batteries.

"I’m quietly confident because it’s not mountainous, although 63 miles will be the most I've walked in a day - and I've done an Ironman Triathlon!

"I think we'll definitely need a couple of days to rest afterwards."

Following in the footsteps of Captain Tom, the duo are hoping to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together.

Niall said: "With Covid restrictions easing, people coming out more and concerns about a potential second peak on the way as Covid related deaths are beginning to rise again, we want to do what we can to try and support our fellow key workers with the NHS."

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Niall-Ryland1.