TWO friends from Ellesmere Port who took to the streets for their latest annual fundraiser have raised thousands of pounds for two worthy causes.

Alfie Duncan and Thomas Sheils started off in Stoke-on-Trent and have been hitch-hiking and finding places to sleep outside in Shrewsbury, Crewe, Nantwich and Chester over the past week.

They have been raising funds for Chester charity the Share Shop, which helps the homeless, and the Spider-Ede Appeal, part of the Bradley Lowery Foundation.

The latter appeal is in aid of three-year-old Edie Molyneux, of Tranmere, who has a rare brain tumour and her family need to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to pay for medical treatment.

To cap this year's fundraising, there will be a family fun day at Whitby Sports and Social Club on Saturday from noon to 5pm, plus an adults-only after party featuring a live DJ and music act.

Organiser and friend Danni Wilson explained: "This is the third year Alfie and Thomas have been fundraising. In 2016 they walked from Big Ben back to Ellesmere Port and last year they did the Three Peaks Challenge, but cycling between each peak, which took them about five days in total.

"This year they have been hitch-hiking their way back to Ellesmere Port and sleeping rough to help the homeless charity and the Spider-Ede appeal.

"Everyone is invited to the family fun day, where there will be local businesses with lots of events for kids, raffles, donkey rides and a fun fair.

"On Saturday evening, there will be an after party for over 18s with a live DJ and Chester band the Bayrun Junkies. There is also a prize draw for a £300 holiday voucher from Hays Travel."

The organisation of the fundraiser has been going on since March, and Danni has been delighted at the backing for Alfie and Thomas, who put up regular video diaries on Facebook charting their progress.

Danni said: "It's amazing how the people of Ellesmere Port got behind it, as well as local businesses.

"The O2 phone shop in Crewe helped Alfie and Thomas out by recharging their phones for free, McDonald's in Nantwich gave them a free breakfast too. They haven't suffered as much as homeless people might do but it has been great to see the amount of support for their challenge."

To buy tickets for the after party, priced £10, call 07548 764544.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/makeyourlastpoundtheirfirst.