A 50-YEAR-OLD man has completed a mammoth challenge to walk more than 700 miles to celebrate his landmark birthday.

Derek Brown not only walked 726.9 miles from Leeds to Plymouth and back again but also ran the Great North Run two days later.

Mr Brown’s walk, which took him through Salisbury, was to raise money for four charities – Help for Heroes, the Variety Club, Get Kids Going! and Children with Leukaemia.

He has raised more than £60,000 so far and is already planning his next walk for 2013 when he hopes to cover 1,853 miles.