CRICKETING legend Sir Ian Botham has taken to the streets of Bury St Edmunds on the latest leg of a national fund raising walk.

Laurence Cawley

CRICKETING legend Sir Ian Botham has taken to the streets of Bury St Edmunds on the latest leg of a national fund raising walk.

Raising money for Leukaemia Research, crowds gathered outside the Marks and Spencer store in Bury's Buttermarket.

Among them were fellow fund raisers who had held local events to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity - along with the estimated £100,000 already raised by Sir Ian in the first three days of the latest walk.

Sir Ian praised the generosity, especially given the current economic turmoil, saying: “I think people have had a gutful and are fed up with the credit crunch and governments playing Russian roulette with their money.

“The response we have had from the public has been fantastic - they are coming out and doing something positive. I have been really impressed with how much money has been raised and the amount of people who have come to support us has been fantastic.

“I would like to thank everyone (in Bury) for coming. The public should all give themselves a pat on the back as we wouldn't be able to do anything without their support.”

Sir Ian, who last night rested his feet at The Angel Hotel in Bury, arrived at the Buttermarket with a police convoy.

After thanking the public for their generosity, Sir Ian resumed his 131-mile, nine-day Great British Walk Against Childhood Leukaemia joined on his way by reporter Dave Gooderham.

Sir Ian, who walks at a brisk 4.5mph pace, was greeted by cheering residents and shop staff as he walked along Bury town centre, West Suffolk Hospital and then onto the A143 finishing at Ickworth House, Horringer.