A RIDDLESDEN woman has completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks... barefoot!

Anna May shed her shoes to tackle the 24-mile route – taking in the summits of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – for charity.

Despite immense pain and thunderstorms, she finished Sunday's trek in 13-and-a-half hours.

"It was hard work – a lot harder than I expected it to be," said Anna, 24, of Carr Lane.

"I've never been in so much pain.

"It was particularly difficult towards the end when I was tired, too. We had to contend with thunderstorms and it was getting dark. We wanted to finish before darkness fell.

"I'd done some barefoot walking training beforehand but had been away for a few weeks so didn't do a lot."

Anna reached the finish in Horton-in-Ribblesdale at about 8.30pm.

Speaking the following day, she said: "My left foot is swollen – I have nettle stings and I'm limping, but I'm so glad I did it!

"Despite the pain, it was a great experience and one I certainly won't forget."

Anna was accompanied by friends Kamran Yunis and Kathrine Garnett, who completed the route in more traditional style – with footwear.

The temp worker's mammoth effort raised £800 for international development work charity Progressio.

Anna – a criminology graduate and a volunteer with the InTouch Foundation charity in Bradford – is heading to Nicaragua for ten weeks in October with the organisation, part of International Citizen Service (ICS), which brings young people together to fight poverty.

She will be working with a team of local and UK volunteers on a number of environmental projects.

"My fundraising target was £800 so I'm really pleased to achieve that, and would like to thank everyone who gave their support," she said.

"Nicaragua is striving to overcome the after-effects of dictatorship, civil war and natural calamities, which have made it one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.

"The money raised will allow Progressio ICS to bring about positive changes and make a real difference to the lives of people in developing countries, such as Nicaragua."