Disabled children are to tackle mammoth walking challenges.

Nine excited pupils from Lydgate School in New Mill will defy all the odds when they trek 65 miles along Northumberland’s coastal path from next Monday despite some having physical issues.

Starting in Cresswell, the group, aged between 12 and 16, will walk north up the coast through the week to their finish point at the English-Scottish border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed on Sunday.

They will be accompanied by staff from the school, as well as four volunteers and one parent.

It is just one of the extraordinary feats to be accomplished by the school’s students.

Another six, aged 15 and 16, will go above and beyond when they climb up the 1,085m high Mount Snowdon on June 20.

They are all taking part to raise money for the school’s outdoor adventures fund.

“They’re very excited”, said Judy Rowland, a teacher at the school.

“They’re each raising money by people sponsoring them.

A member of the public walks along a footpath next to the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick-upon-Tweed

“We did the Northumberland Challenge once before in 2014 and it was so successful we’ve decided to run it again.

“Amongst those taking part is a student with cerebal palsy, one with dyspraxia and one with a chromosome disorder.

“The group will be staying at Alnwick Youth Hostel and we’ll be using a van so that we can walk a different section each day.

“It’s going to be great fun and the students will get to visit RAF Boulmer and enjoy barbecues on the beach.

“Two girls and four boys will tackle the eight mile Snowdon walk.

“They’ve never done anything so challenging before so it will be a great achievement.

“We spend a lot of the school year outside to help our pupils.

“It builds their self esteem and proves to them just what they are capable of doing.”