Two women have cycled the length of the country as part of a drive to raise £1.5m to develop a Carlisle church.

Gael Dowdeswell and Beth Smith received a hero's welcome on Wednesday afternoon as they completed their 720-mile route riding into Gretna Green.

Friends from St Elisabeth's Church in Harraby gathered to welcome the pair back home, many with banners, balloons and flowers.

They embarked on the cycling challenge to raise funds for the church's Step Up fund which aims to raise £1.5m to develop its Arnside Road site.

The women set off together from Land's End on August 29 and followed the National Cycle Network's Sustrans route.

Cycling as a pair for the first few days, they then completed alternative legs of the journey and often clocking up distances of over 45 miles a day.

The longest legs were between Dulverton and Glastonbury in Somerset, which was almost 64 miles, and the 67.7 miles from Borwick near Lancaster to Penrith they managed on Tuesday.

Gael, 49, and 65-year-old Beth have been supported along the way by Reverend Sue Wicks, vicar at St Elisabeth's Church.

Revd Wicks said: "The first couple of days were really tough until they got into their stride.

"The route has taken them everywhere, on all the quiet roads and along canal paths. It has been very scenic and it has been a really great trip and been wonderful to see so many beautiful places.

"They've been taking their own food and drink along the way because it has been difficult to get access to them because of the route."

She added: "They have been coping well considering Gael had an accident on the first day."

Gael fell from her bike after hitting a pothole as she neared the end of the first day. She injured her shoulder and received treatment at hospital in Truro.

Rev Wicks said: "She's been cycling on codeine ever since. She suffered ligament and tissue damage. It has been very painful for her.

"She saw a consultant and asked if she could cycle and they said yes as long as she was able to rest her arms properly in between."

St Elisabeth's Church has secured planning permission to build a multi-use hall at its site in Harraby. There will also be a community cafe, toilets and showers.

Outside, the grounds will be landscaped and the café will have an enclosed garden to the rear.

The Step Up project is being led by a voluntary committee to raise the necessary funds.

* Visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/StElisabethsHarraby to support the St Elisabeth's Church Step Up project.