HEROIC fundraiser Jim Morton who spent 537 days walking around the British coastline has finally achieved his four-year quest to break the £50,000 barrier.

The 64-year-old dad-of-three, from Penistone, set off in a motorhome with his wife Sue and dogs Shona and Maisie on April 12, 2021 - the day the Covid lockdown ended - to undertake his walk of a lifetime in aid of the Ghurka Welfare Trust.

Having completed it on September 31, 2022, Jim was slightly short and decided another mammoth task - walking the entirety of the D-Day beaches in time for June 6, the 80th anniversary of the operation.

He managed to raise a further £3,000 and, having published 1,000 books about his story - called I May Be Gone A While - he surpassed his £50,000 target before Christmas.

Jim, who won a Proud of Barnsley award for his efforts, told the Chronicle: “I’m thrilled to have reached the target in the days before Christmas.

“I was a bit short after the coastwalk so it was great to head out to Normandy.

“I’ve been doing talks at public events here and there and have sold all 1,000 copies of my book.

“It’s been an amazing experience - it’s not about the places, it’s all about the people we have met along the way.

“I have made friends for life.”