Postal worker walks 400 miles for mental health

Nikki Gaynor, also known as The Walking Postie, has walked 400 miles to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention

A Royal Mail postal worker has walked more than 400 miles to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.

Nikki Gaynor, who is originally from Launceston, Cornwall, began her journey on 11 August at the Royal Mail sorting office in Darlington, County Durham, where she now lives.

Ms Gaynor, who is described as "The Walking Postie", said she was raising awareness after losing her best friend to suicide and wanted to get people talking about their feelings.

"I started the journey because in the north-east of England we had the highest suicide rate in the UK, on average six people a week," she said.

Ms Gaynor has 33 names of people who have lost their lives to suicide on her t-shirt

Ms Gaynor said: "One suicide impacts up to 135 people, so after finding that out and losing my best friend I knew I had to raise awareness to try and save as many people as I possibly could."

She has 33 names written on her top and has been adding to the list along the way.

"On route people have asked me to take their loved one's names with me as well," she said.

"I've had them written down on a piece of paper and taking them with me."

Ms Gaynor said she has been walking between 30 to 39 miles a day

She said a Royal Mail driver had been following her to ensure she is safe and on average they have been doing between 30 to 39 miles a day.

On Saturday, Ms Gaynor said she was on the "last stretch" after walking from Okehampton to Launceston.