A lifelong Burnley fan has completed a 200-mile sponsored walk – to benefit young fans of rivals Blackburn Rovers.

Clarets supporter Olly Cutler, 32, who lives in Carleton, put club allegiances aside as he embarked on Alfred Wainwright’s famous Coast-to-Coast walk in memory of work colleague Rachel Tucker, who died suddenly last December.

Rachel, 35, was a passionate Rovers fan and Olly wanted to raise funds to buy tickets for local pupils to attend Ewood Park – Blackburn’s stadium – throughout this season. A Burnley season-ticket holder for 17 years, Olly worked with Rachel at Homeloan Management, in Padiham.

He said: “Rachel was a really bubbly, larger-than-life character who lit up the room. It was always a source of amusement when we swapped football stories on a Monday morning.

“She was a single mother and left a young daughter Ebony, who is 14, so doing something for the younger generation ticks all the right boxes.”

As well as getting to watch a Premier League game at Ewood Park, the children will receive two hours of matchday coaching from the Trust’s community staff.

Olly completed the walk in 11 days and has so far raised £1,600, with more to come.

“I had the full spectrum of weather – the first three or four days were very hot, it then rained and that was followed by hailstones,” he said.

“I got to see a very beautiful part of England and I enjoyed the physical challenge. I had never done anything on this scale before.”

Olly said he met some interesting people en route, including Charlie Walduck who hit the headlines after shedding an amazing 25 stones.

“He was a very inspiring chap and, after finishing the walk, he was due to take part in the Great North Run,” said Olly, who was joined for the last part of the trek by his fiancée Charlotte Burns.

To donate, visit c2c.awardspace.co.uk.