A SUPER-FIT York clergyman completed a walk of Biblical proportions to raise money for the restoration of his church organ.

Rev Steve Benford, 45, vicar of St Luke's Church, in Burton Stone Lane, trekked 100 miles in 39 hours from Helmsley to Scarborough.

The father-of-four suffered badly bruised feet in the challenge, but managed to raise more than £1,000.

Mr Benford said he took the opportunity during the walk to pray.

"It was very tiring, but I was given tremendous support from the people of the church," he said.

"It felt like a real team effort and people came and walked with me through the night.

"The last three-and-a-half miles were really tough, but I had surprisingly few blisters."

Mr Benford said he was given great support from church members Linda Price, James Rosie and Paul Jeffery, who walked a lot of the way with him.

He set off from Helmsley at dawn on Thursday, September 14 and followed a route northwards and then south along the coast based on the Cleveland Way, arriving in Scarborough on Saturday evening.

Mr Benford, who qualified as a medical doctor in 1986 and went on to work at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, said his average speed was 2.56 miles per hour for 100 miles. Last May, he walked 66 miles from Whitby to York in 29 hours.

"I'm a fairly pig-headed, determined sort of person," he said.

"We had a great time and made sure we prayed at the beginning and at the end."

The organ at St Luke's Church was installed in the 1950s and is used for worship several times a week.

Wear and tear is taking its toll and the organ will shortly require work costing more than £35,000 to make it fit for the next 25 years.

Church leaders feel this is good value compared with the cost and life expectancy of electronic instruments.

Ten per cent of the clergyman's sponsorship cash will be donated to Christian Aid.

For more information about the organ appeal, log on to the St Luke's website at www.stlukesyork.org