A GROUP of employees from a Dorset-based funeral directors have raised over £1,200 for a charity set up in memory of a late Royal Marine.

Douch Family Funeral Directors, which has branches across the county, raised the funds after 13 employees trekked 30-miles in Dorset for a sponsored walk to raise funds for The John Thornton Young Achievers' Foundation.

The charity's namesake died aged just 22 while serving in Afghanistan in 2008 and his family set up the foundation in his memory to support young people and youth organisations in the area.

His dad, Pete Thornton, said: "We are grateful and overwhelmed by this contribution and the amount raised.

"It was a great effort and without donations from individuals, groups and businesses, we would have no money to support young people."

The staff from the funeral directors carried out the walk in two stages and chose the 30-mile figure to recognise the year that John Thornton would have celebrated his 30 birthday.

Nick Douch, MD of the Douch Family Funeral Directors, said: "We are committed to raising money for local charities and this cause is very close to us.

"There were 13 of us in total doing the 30 miles over two weekends and people were extremely generous.

"On the first stage we walked the Castleman Trailway from Ringwood to Upton House and we then went from Wareham Quay to Sturminster Marshall.

"It was hard work but we were pleased with the amount it raised and know how well it will be used."

The John Thornton Young Achievers' Foundation, which is run by Pete Thornton and his wife, Linda, has given out more than £330,000 since it was created. The money is spent by funding scholarships for young people to aid their personal development and to assist them in the pursuit of their ambitions.