A HARDY pensioner is planning to walk 90 miles in the footsteps of Roman soldiers in a bid to raise crucial cash for her hometown church.

Rosemary Jewers will walk the ancient route of Peddars Way which her family have known about for decades and believe runs between Colchester and Norfolk.

The 75-year-old’s trek will take her to her former home in Little Massingham where the Grade 1 listed St Andrew’s Church – of which she is a patron – needs a new roof after callous thieves stole the lead from it.

Since the theft some three years ago, the church has had a temporary roof covering it but it is coming to the end of its life.

The theft left the community devastated and church bosses are in need of some £150,000 to cover the cost of a proper replacement.

Mrs Jewers is hoping to raise a portion of the funds needed because of her special connection with the church where her grandfather, great grandfather and great, great, grandfather were all rectors.

Two decades ago she walked 46 miles of the route which was known then, but health issues, including a hip replacement have limited her rambling in recent years.

But now Mrs Jewers, who lives in Abbeyfields area, Colchester, has begun a training programme ahead of the walk planned for the spring.

“For some people 90 miles might not seem a lot – but at my age and with my circumstances it is going to be quite a challenge,” she said.

“My fitness is getting better and I am now starting to up the number of miles I am putting in.

“I don’t want to do it on my own and have already had a few volunteers come forward who have said they will come along with me - one lady has already pledged that she will do the whole thing.

“Whenever I speak to people in Norfolk about what I am doing, people know about Peddars Way and that it goes to Colchester whereas people around here seem to be unaware of it.

“There is still a lot of research to do to understand the history of the route but I think it is really interesting.”

Mrs Jewers has spent the last few weeks speaking to historians and studying online books and articles to determine the background to the route.

Her research suggests it would have been possible Boadicea herself would potentially have travelled along the track when she came to Colchester, although it cannot be confirmed for sure.

She added: “We know she certainly hung out in West Norfolk so there is no reason why she would not have used that route.”

Anyone who wants to participate in the walk - or who would like to donate should go to  justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rosemary-peddars-walk.

The walk is being scheduled for Spring next year.