IPSWICH: The mother of a soldier killed in action was given a hero’s welcome to the town yesterday, as she marched through the town on a sponsored 150-mile walk through East Anglia.

Christine Bonner, 54, was one of a dozen people striding through the centre of Ipswich as part of the ten-day walk, organised in memory of her son, Corporal Darren Bonner of the Royal Anglian Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.

They set off from Peterborough last Friday and are due to finish in Chelmsford tomorrow.

Mrs Bonner said: “We walked 20 miles yesterday, from Lowestoft to Ipswich. So far, we have walked 120 miles and we have 30 miles left to go.

“I can’t deny it’s hard going, but at the same time, when you see all the support you get from the public, it is great and it makes everything a lot easier.

“We had such a fantastic welcome into Ipswich. We had a piper and the standard of the regiment and so much support from local cadets, plus members of the public waiting for us to come through.”

Mrs Bonner was accompanied by ten soldiers and veterans of her son’s regiment as she walked from Old Foundry Road through the town centre to the Cornhill, where they were greeted at the town hall by Mayor Jane Chambers.

They stopped for much-needed refreshments at the town hall before continuing their journey towards Essex.

The group is hoping to improve on the �44,000 they raised for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity, which offers support to soldiers, veterans and their dependants.

The walk has been called “All the 4s”, which stands for “4 the boys, 4 the families, 4 the fallen, 4 ever.”

Anyone wishing to join in or sponsor the walkers can visit www.allthe4s.co.uk.