TWO police officers and a PCSO are about to set off on a mammoth 220-mile trek in aid of a dog charity.

Starting on Thursday, Pc Marc Norman, Pc Steve Bright and PCSO Stuart Parkinson will be walking coast-to-coast across Scotland – from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath.

The team is raising money for Greyhound Gap, an independent charity that rescues and re-homes greyhounds and lurchers to prevent them being put to sleep at the end of their racing careers.

The trio aim to finish the walk in ten-and-a- half days, averaging 21 miles a day.

Pc Norman, who works as a detective in special branch, explained: “Last year, Steve and I took on the famous 200 mile coast-to-coast walk from St Bees Head, Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire and raised just over �2,500 for Greyhound Gap.

“The previous year we did the Ghurkha challenge – a 100km run over the South Downs for Oxfam and the Ghurkha Welfare Trust.

“Although the walk was a real challenge, with lots of blisters, we decided to do something every year, setting the challenge a little tougher each time.”

PCSO Parkinson, who works with Pc Bright in the Ipswich North East Safer Neighbourhood Team, came on board after hearing about the pair’s exploits and the three men began to plan their walk across Scotland.

There were fears that the walk wouldn’t go ahead, with Pc Norman severely injuring his cruciate knee ligaments in a sporting accident earlier in the year, but he’s back on his feet and hopeful about completing the challenge.

He said: “The surgeon’s last words to me were ‘You’re not doing that walk,’ but six weeks ago my physio said I would be ready.”

To support the trio and follow their journey, visit www.walkingthebeat.co.uk