PRIEST Father Paul Martin and parishioner Ewan Gordon have completed a month-long, 500-mile walk from the holy Hebridean island of Iona back to Bicester to help raise £1.5m to build a community hall and memorial garden.

They are pictured being welcomed back by children from St Mary’s School, in Queens Avenue, and parishioners who clapped and cheered as the pair completed the final few steps into Garth Park.

Fr Martin, 50, said they hoped to raise more than £10,000 towards the project at the Catholic church in the Causeway.

He said: “It was wonderful from start to finish. I don’t think there was ever a moment we thought we wouldn’t finish it.”

So far, the church has raised £500,000 from an asset sale and the next challenge is to raise the rest of the £2m needed.

For more information go to www.immaculate-conception.org