TEAMS of youngsters will be walking for miles this weekend, in a police-led initiative to raise money for two West Devon youth clubs.

Around 50 young people from Horrabridge and Princetown youth clubs will be walking eight miles from their own youth club to their opposing youth club to raise much needed funds for the clubs.

The idea of local policemen, the Moorland Challenge has multi-agency support from Dartmoor National Park, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, Dartmoor Rescue, the Police and the Army, representatives of which will be present at the event.

Along the route, the youngsters will have several mental and physical challenges to complete.

PC Dave Pickles said: 'The teams then spend the night in the opposing clubs and we try to get some sleep. We only got about one and a half hours sleep last year.'

Last year was the first Moorland Challenge and PCSO Rob Walsh said it was extremely popular: 'The kids pulled out all the stops and were really gutsy last year and raised lots of money for their clubs. The youth clubs really suffer because of lack of funding.

'It is the furthest a lot of those children have ever walked — eight miles is a significant challenge.'

This year's challenge will take place on Saturday, starting at 11am.

The teams are hoping to raise as much as possible for their clubs.

Anyone who would like to support the youngsters can do so with cash donations via collection boxes placed at Tavistock Police Station and local stores in Horrabridge and Princetown.