A widower from St Martins is taking on a charity trek across the Great Wall of China in memory of his late wife.

David Hayes will be taking on the five-day challenge across the famous landmark to raise money for Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham, who cared for his wife Joan Milton in the weeks before she passed away.

"Joan passed away on October 27 last year," said David.

"I remember being sat in Nightingale House Hospice just afterwards and saw a poster for this trek on the wall, and I thought 'I need something to focus on', so I signed up.

"The trip takes place from October 19 -27 and on the last day we will be carrying bricks up to repair a section of the wall. I will be placing a brick with a momento of Joan into the wall, and this will be particularly poignant as it will be exactly a year after her death that I will be doing something in her honour at this amazing place."

Joan came to Shropshire in 1988 as a single parent with a young daughter Jo, then aged seven.

To support the family and be around for Jo on the school run, Joan started Whixall Wood Furniture, which became J.A.Milton Upholstery Supplies, which celebrates it 30th anniversary next year.

After buying and selling from auctions, she learnt upholstery and became so proficient, Joan ended up teaching in Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Market Drayton colleges.

The business moved to Whitchurch in the 90s and in early 2000 to its current home in Ellesmere.

To raise money for the charity, David is also selling tickets for a 90 second trolley dash at Stans Superstore in St Martins.

David will be at Stans selling tickets, which cost £1, on Thursday and Friday, September 13 and 14 and Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30.

He will also have a table at the Ifton Meadows Nature Day on Sunday, August 19 from 12pm to 4pm.

The date of the dash will agreed with the winner at a convenient time and the winner will be announced on October 1.

"Nightingale House were absolutely fantastic when we were going through such a horrible time," continued David.

"This is to mark the anniversary of Joan's passing – a wife, mother, grandmother and business woman who was so taken by the care and support she received from Nightingale House Hospice that she wanted to do all she could to raise money for them so other families could benefit like herself."