LONG DISTANCE walkers Alison Shaw and Martyn King completed the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path earlier this week - the latest stage of their marathon round-Britain trek in aid of the RNLI.

The couple dropped in at lifeboat stations around Pembrokeshire to meet up with RNLI crew members and support workers and braved some very wet weather as the county was lashed by storms. They also linked up with National Park staff at Little Haven.

Alison and Martyn are on the homeward stretch of a remarkable trek, which began at Liverpool on January 1st, 2000, and which has seen them overcome major adversity.

At the height of the foot and mouth crisis earlier this year, which led to so many footpaths being closed throughout the UK, the couple were in Dorset, unable to proceed on their route. At Weymouth Alison was taken seriously ill with a brain tumour which needed major surgery. She returned to her home in Cheshire to undergo radio therapy treatment in hospital but bravely, within weeks, was ready to resume the walk.

The couple - who are to be married on December 1st in Cheshire - re-started their walk in mid August and last week had reached Pembrokeshire.

Its been delightful to walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, said Martyn, aged 45. We have found it well maintained and signposted and even though we have had a lot of rain it has not been very muddy.

The Pembrokeshire coastline is fantastic, added 33-year-old Alison, who is still bearing the scars of her operation. I only remember it from childhood holidays, but we will have to return for a more leisurely walk in the future.

The couple praised the hospitality of local people who had supported them and provided overnight accommodation as well.

Since coming into Wales we have not had to pitch our tent once, said Alison. People we have met by chance have gone out of their way to help, transporting our large backpacks and putting us up. Its been marvellous. Martyn added: We can see the end goal now and are keen to complete our long walk before winter sets in. We have to be back in Cheshire by December 1st as the wedding is booked!

Their walk has been entirely self-financed and they gave up their jobs to do it, and they hope to raise at least £5,000 for the RNLI.

When they called in at the Little and Broad Haven inshore lifeboat house last week it was the 163rd lifeboat station they had visited, out of the 185 in the country!

Alison Shaw and Martyn King check out the next stage of their route from Little Haven with (left) Pembrokeshire Coast National Park access officer Anthony Richards. Anthony presented them with cloth National Park emblems to put on their rucksacks. PICTURE: National Park Authority.