The Bishop of Kingston, Dr Martin Gainsborough, has completed his mission to run the full 268 miles of the Pennine Way in ten days, accompanied by his border collie, Jem. He has raised more than £35,000 for charity as a result.

The bishop and Jem completed the challenge on Sunday, 10 August, having averaged a marathon a day across some of England's wildest terrain — from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just over the Scottish border — with an incline of nearly 40,000 feet.

Dr Gainsborough told Church Times yesterday (Tuesday, 12 August): "Running the equivalent of a marathon a day for ten days was pretty brutal as it is wild and mountainous terrain, and it is quite easy to lose the path."

To say that he enjoyed the experience "would be overstating it", he said, but to have made it through without injury was "deeply exhilarating".

He added: "Jem, who was magnificent throughout, is now enjoying a more sedentary pace in Southfields."

The Bishop set out on 1 August with an initial target of raising £30,000 to improve education in the diocese of Matabeleland, in Zimbabwe, with which Southwark diocese is linked.

He had been inspired by the children and teachers he met on a visit to the region last year, where many children currently walk up to 10km to get to their nearest school — a dangerous journey which means that many, particularly girls, are unable to attend.

The money raised will help to build new schools like St Cecilia's School in Lupane, which is still under construction, but already offers an education to local children.