A COMMUNITY Walk held on the route of the Crediton Link Road last Sunday attracted a large number of people and raised a considerable sum for the Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal.

Many people took the opportunity to walk the route, ahead of the opening of the road, and did so in pleasant weather.

The eldest person to walk Wellparks Hill was John Allen (95), of Crediton.

Bill Jerman, chairman, Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal, said: "We had 300 walkers and a good number of four-legged friends with wagging tails take part in the walk, which has raised £611.76 for the Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal.

"Many walkers walked the road both ways and many commented on the views while some walked one way from Marsh Lane and returned via the footpath from the A377, past Downes Farm, back across the new bridge and then down to Downeshead and past Buller Square to return home."

He added that the amount raised takes the Appeal well past £20,000 since the appeal launch on May 3.

Extensive roof and high masonry repairs are now needed at Holy Cross Church and the whole project, in two phases, is expected to take around 10 years to complete.

It will certainly be one of the biggest restoration projects seen in the Diocese of Exeter for many years.

Mr Jerman thanked Devon County Council and South West Highways for allowing the walk to take place.

The construction of Crediton Link Road, which is 760 metres long, began in July last year and has involved the removal of 100,000 cubic metres of soil and the planting of many new trees.

Alan Quick