Christian groups begin Easter pilgrimage

Pilgrims yesterday started a 70-mile journey carrying a nine-foot wooden cross.

To mark Easter week, wor-shippers from all branches of the Christian faith joined forces to make the excursion to Walsing-ham, Norfolk.

It is anticipated that about 250 people from around England will meet at the shine of Our Lady of Walsingham on Good Friday.

A spokesman for Student Cross, the longest running annual pilgrimage in the country, said 30 pilgrims had set off from Ely in Cambridgeshire earlier yesterday.

He said that on Monday walkers from Oxford, London, Nottingham, Leicester, Colchester and Desborough had all begun their pilgrimage. Each group carries a cross and will walk an average of 120 miles.

Walker Adrian Gibbons, who is from the United Reform Church, started the 67-mile journey with the Ely group yesterday morning.

He said that, despite the miserable weather, spirits were still high.

"It takes three people to hold the cross up - two at the sides and one at the back," said Mr Gibbons.

"We're doing all right so far but we could see some blisters by Friday. It is a celebration of Jesus' life, Easter and the resurrection. It is really to do something in memory of what Christ did for us."

The walkers are classed as a slow-moving vehicle and have to write to the Chief Constable of each area that they walk through to ask permission to walk on the roads.

"One or two motorists have got a little irritated with us," said Mr Gibbons.

"But on the whole people are really welcoming as we pass through their villages."

A final collection of walkers is due to set off from North Elmham, Norfolk, on Good Friday morning.

Student Cross first started walking from London to Walsingham in 1948. It was originally a male-only Catholic pilgrimage.