Two Ottery St Mary locals are set to walk 25 mile around East Devon to raise funds and awareness for Palestine.

Helen Collinson and Julian Elston will walk the miles - from Ottery St Mary to Honiton and Sidmouth, and back - to match the length of the Gaza strip and will be joined by members from East Devon for a Fairer World.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardments on Gaza have claimed nearly 30,000 lives, 70 per cent of whom were women and children.

The ongoing conflict has injured 50,000 people and forced nearly two million out of their homes, now living in fear in substandard conditions.

As food and health services become increasingly sparse, local communities face a looming starvation crisis.

Ms Collinson, said: "In 1982 I taught English to young Palestinian students in Al Mughazi refugee camp in Gaza.

"I dread to think what has happened to my former students and their families in recent months.

"In November, a huge bomb hit the centre of Al-Mughazi camp, killing 56 people, most of them women and children.

"Seeing the destruction on TV and the street I used to walk up to the UNRWA school was devastating.

"That’s why I am compelled to walk 25 miles round East Devon on March 2 - to support the people of Gaza and to demand an immediate ceasefire."

Ms Collinson and Mr Elston, with the East Devon Fairer World Group, are urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and appeal to the UK Government and Parliament to also support this cause.

Mr Elston said: "The killing of innocent civilians is illegal in international law and must stop now.

"Of course, we condemn the slaughter of innocent Israeli civilians and the taking of hostages by Hamas fighters on October 7.

"But this does not justify Israel’s slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians.

"And nor will it bring peace and security to Israel in the long run."

This East Devon walk is part of the wider 'Run the Wall' initiative organised by the Amos Trust.

Hundreds of groups and individuals across the UK and globally will participate in solidarity actions for Palestine on March 1 or 2.

Ms Collinson and Mr Elston have already raised more than £600 towards their cause, with the funds directed towards supporting the humanitarian effort in Gaza and reconstructing homes destroyed in the West Bank.