A dog lover trudging the length of the country with her faithful hound has pledged to finish her epic trek despite tragedy striking with 150 miles to go.

Trish Adams began walking from John-o'-Groats to Land's End back in May, followed by her dog Ben, in aid of two dog charities.

At 14, Ben was too old to trot alongside the 40-year-old from Wiltshire, so followed the adventurer from a camper van driven by a friend, with the occasional short stint at his owner's side.

The pair reached Somerset when tragedy struck. Ben took ill and had to be put down, leaving a grieving Trish wondering whether to continue with the epic charity walk.

But now MsAdams is determined to complete the walk for Ben, and said the experience had changed her life for ever.

The open road has provided such a pull on MsAdams, who ran a cleaning business and worked in a residential home, that she is to do a Forrest Gump, turn around and keep on walking, even when she reaches Land's End in three or four weeks.

"I've done 1,062 miles so far," she said as she walked through Sutton Mallet on the approach to Bridgwater. "And I've got about 150 to go."

"It has been absolutely wonderful, an amazing experience. I love walking, I love being outdoors and I love meeting people. This walk has been my dream for years, and I'm just so lucky to have been able to do it."

"I loved Ben so much, and I had to take the hard decision whether or not he would accompany me. He was too old, although he probably walked for a total of about a week, on shorter, flat walks I'd done. But it was great because for much of the journey, he's been able to follow in the camper van and each night we'd park and he'd explore somewhere new.

"It's been a wonderful retirement for him, but he was taken from me last week. We were in the best place, as we were near home and near my dad, who lives in Wells, so we had people close at hand.

"It has been really hard since, for the past week or so, but I'm determined now to do this for Ben.

"And when it's over, I don't want to stop. It's my passion and right here on the road is where I want to be. This has almost been a training exercise for the rest of my life, because if I can earn enough, I'll just keep on walking. I'll do a bit of a Forrest Gump and turn around and stay on the road. I love meeting people and I love walking.

"I had my 40th birthday just before I left, and although it wasn't what sparked it, I suppose it was a case of me thinking 'where is my life going? What have I done with my life?' And I realise this is my passion. This has been a whole life-changing experience."

She is raising money for The Dogs Trust and The Oldies Club, which helps find foster homes for older dogs. Supporters have been following Trish's progress on www. trishstrudge4dogs.co.uk.