A Ledbury woman who plans to walk through 90km of Canadian bear country this autumn for Macmillan Cancer Relief can book her tickets for the charity challenge.

Liz Jones has been busy fundraising and appealing for sponsorship since the New Year to raise the minimum amount necessary to justify her place on the trek.

A recent Ceilidh at Ledbury Rugby Club raised £647.90, bringing her total so far to £2,961.85 - well over the minimum of £2,500.

Mrs Jones, who works in the planning department at Malvern Hills District Council, said: "I've exceeded the minimum target in a relatively short period of time and, as you can imagine, I'm very thrilled with the amount raised so far for such a worthy charity.

"A big thank you to everyone."

She decided to raise money for the charity after her aunt, who lived in France, died of cancer last year.

Mrs Jones said there was "no support whatsoever" in France to compare with the service offered by the UK's Macmillan Nurses.

She said of the ceilidh: "It was a huge success, enjoyed by everyone."

Donations and raffle prizes were given by various local companies, including Woolworth's, Somerfield, Tesco, Waitrose, Westons, butcher Andy Callwood, butcher David Waller, organic farmer John Davenport and Briggs the Chemists.

Once in Canada, Mrs Jones will face seven days in the Chilcotin Mountains, well known for its wildlife.