A Llandrindod Wells woman is up and running on an epic 360 mile walk from Morecambe to Llandrindod Wells.

Jude Boutle, former town champion of Lland'od, is one of eight intrepid hikers taking on the Big Walk, a National Lottery funded project to raise awareness of community projects up and down the country.

She set off from Morecambe as part of a live show broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday, May 16, and has now crossed the border into North Wales where she will be visiting community projects.

"We have only been walking for a few days but already I’m overwhelmed by all the projects Team Wales have visited. We were welcomed with open arms by the people of Morecambe and I will never forget that experience," she said.

"Coming over the border back into Wales was emotional for me. I have already visited some amazing community-led projects in Flintshire and Wrexham and I can’t wait to travel south through Powys, my home county, to continue getting a flavour of the hard work local people are putting into their communities to improve. I knew The Big Walk would be a privilege and it’s become much more than that.

"It’s also exciting to be able to tell everyone about my own home town of Llandrindod Wells, where the strength of community spirit is what’s inspired me to get involved in local projects. It’s been inspiring to see the level of passion that people have for place and community across Wales.”

Her journey over the next two weeks will take her to Newtown, Welshpool, Monmouth, Chepstow, Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Swansea and Builth Wells, before returning to Llandrindod for a finale event on Sunday, June 3.

Organisers of The Big Walk say the event is designed to shine a light on the people at the heart of the UK’s communities, who work together to make great things happen every day.

The annual hike sees four teams of walkers embarking on an epic journey to the four corners of the UK, visiting different projects and community groups along the way that are making a real difference to their communities.