A BOBBY has been walking the beat in his own time to raise money for charity.

PCSO Chris Hamer, who works in Bacup, Britannia and Weir, has walked more than 1,000 miles over a year in his patch to drum up money for Rossendale Hospice.

And while collecting cash for the organisation, which supports people with cancer and other degenerative diseases, PCSO Hamer, 25, has been keeping an eye out for trouble hotspots and speaking to residents about their concerns.

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He said: “It was great being out, speaking to lots of people and having them seeing an officer on the beat more regularly.

“A lot of people in the area already knew who I was, but they enjoyed seeing me out and about.”

PCSO Hamer, who has been in the job for six years, said he decided he wanted to do the 1,030-mile challenge, which he completed earlier this month, because of how much the hospice meant to people in the borough and the amazing work they do for people with life-limiting illnesses.

The distance represents the number of miles between Rossendale and Bocholt, in Germany, which the borough is twinned with.

PCSO Hamer said: “I thought the walking challenge would be a good way of raising a little bit of money for the hospice while also mixing it with being on duty and on breaks. It was a good way of being more of a presence in the community.

“I decided to raise money for Rossendale Hospice as they provide much-needed care for residents in the borough who are suffering from cancer and other degenerative diseases.

“The hospice also offers support for carers in the community.”

The officer completed the challenge by walking an average of five miles a day. However, if work became busy, it would always take priority.

He said: “It was really hard to do because when we had other things going on, some days I would not be able to do my walking.

“It would depend on demand or if an important job had come in.

“So I would have to catch up on the miles I missed out on over the next couple of days. They could soon stack up.”

PCSO Hamer said now having completed the challenge, he was hoping lots of money would be donated to his JustGiving page.

He added: “It would be great if we could get more donations.”

To sponsor PCSO Hamer, visit www.justgiving.com/Christopher-Hamer