AN EXHAUSTED duo has raised £4,000 after walking 700 miles from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to Buckingham Palace.

Mark Cundy and Lucas Colyer, from Southend, decided to take on the cross-country challenge to raise vital funds for Children in Need.

The family friends, aged 53 and 22 respectively, returned home on Saturday after starting the walk on September 23.

They thanked everyone for their donations.

Mark said: “We’re so grateful to anyone who donated, especially the anonymous BBC Essex listener who said that he will double whatever we raise.

“We also had people offering us dinners and rooms to stay in their homes.

“A lovely man in Germany was the first.

“A Wetherspoons in Kent gave us free dinner, a free room, and a free breakfast.

“We were amazed.”

Mark described the walk, and recounted the memories they had along the way. He added: “The whole thing was wonderful. We experienced every bit of emotion.

“We were so exhausted, but we were so chuffed to raise so much money. Our hard work paid off.

“We tried to try as much local cuisine as we could. The German and Belgian food was unbelievable.

“We stayed in the cheapest hostels and bed and breakfasts we could.

“Every day we were exhausted. We walked 15 to 20 miles every day.”

The pair, who took a photo every time they moved into a different country, walked across five nations. Mark continued: “We walked over Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, and England, of course.

“The ferry home was no time for relaxing. We had an 18-mile walk to Canterbury when we arrived.

“Our friends and family were with us for the final mile in London. It was really special.

“We touched the gates at Buckingham Palace before we headed home.”

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/markandlucasuk.