TWO pupils from Bloxham School in Oxfordshire celebrated the end of their A-Levels by walking 200 miles to Longleat.

Tom Evans, 18, of Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, and Ben Keyser, 18, of Middle Tysoe, Warwickshire took on the extreme countryside trek to raise money for the charity Mary’s Meals.

The lads spent 13 days walking from Warwickshire to Longleat, via south west England and Wales, averaging 18 miles a day.

The challenging hike was made even more difficult when Tom had to walk in flip-flops after suffering from painful blisters only days into the two-week long journey.

Tom said “The walk was enjoyable, but it was very much a challenge. Doing the rest of the walk in flip-flops was its own little challenge.

“They helped with the blisters, so in that sense it was great.”

On one day it was easier for Tom to walk barefoot as it had rained all day and the ground was too slippery to grip in flip-flops.

The adventure ended on August 4 (Friday, August 4), when Tom and Ben met up with Ben’s family at Centre Parcs Longleat Forest.

The two boys felt happy to be finished and to spend the last three days relaxing, but didn’t know what to expect when they had completed the walk.

Tom said “It felt amazing but I feel like once I have actually donated the money I will feel more of a sense of achievement.

“The generosity of people on the walk, the people we met were amazing. It was surprising just how generous people are.”

£956.31 has been raised so far, exceeding their £300 target. The money raised will go to Mary’s meals, a charity which helps children in some of the world’s poorest communities where poverty and hunger prevent them from getting an education.