THEY braved some of Hampshire's busiest roads to help ex-servicemen who have fallen on hard times.

Michelle Walton pushed wheelchair-user Diane Matthews all the way from Southampton to Hythe as part of a national campaign called Walking Home for Christmas.

The gruelling eight-mile journey, which took about six hours, involved walking along the A35 and other major routes.

Michelle, 46, and Diane, 40, have been best friends since they ended up living next door to each other in Blackfield almost 25 years ago.

Michelle is a night support worker at Patrick House, a 57-bed homeless hostel in Millbrook Road West, Southampton.

Each wearing a Santa hat and a high-vis jacket, the two women set off from the hostel and headed for their destination - Costa Coffee in Hythe.

Michelle, who lives in the village, said: “I've worked in the hostel for nearly six years and love my job.

“I also love to walk and wanted to take part in Walking Home for Christmas. When I mentioned it to Diane she said how disheartened she felt that her disabilities prevented her from ever taking part such events, so I decided to push her in her wheelchair."

Diane, of Dibden, suffers from a muscle-wasting disease called dermatomysitis, which was diagnosed when she was just eight years old.

About 15 years ago she was also diagnosed with serra-negative inflammatory arthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis.

She is not confined to a wheelchair but has to use one when her condition flares-up, causing excruciating pain and reducing her mobility.

Walking Home for Christmas raises funds for Walking with the Wounded, which helps veterans with physical or mental injuries gain employment and independence.

Michelle and Diane say they hope to have raised at least £300.