FORMER Labour MSP Mercedes Villabla has walked almost 500 miles to raise awareness of displaced people’s plight and funds for the Communication Workers Union’s Humanitarian Aid (CWU HA) appeal.

Ms Villalba, who stood down as a North East Scotland representative at Holyrood in May, began her 31-day hike at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, crossing the Pyrenees and into Spain and then continuing along the pilgrimage route known as the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, capital of the Galicia region.

Mountains, blisters and a record-breaking heatwave did little to hamper her progress on a month-long journey that has so far raised nearly £2,500 for rojects supporting children at home and abroad.

“I’m delighted to have made it to Santiago de Compostela after 31 days of walking to raise funds for CWU HA,” she told the Morning Star.

“I’m grateful to everyone for their encouragement and donations to the fundraiser, which will remain open until the end of the summer.

“The greatest pleasure of walking the Camino was being part of a movement of people with a united purpose, a principle shared by our proud labour movement. 

“Although I now leave the pilgrimage behind, I take with me a profound experience of solidarity which will stay with me forever. 

“To those undertaking their own journey, Buen Camino — you can do it!”

Paying tribute, CWU HA chairman Carl Webb said: “There’s only one word for this challenge, and that’s ‘awesome.’

“It was an incredible achievement in conditions that were far from easy, but hopefully now Mercedes can put her feet up, knowing she’s done her bit to support our efforts to give children a decent start in life, from Blackpool to Moldova, Dundee to Tanzania and Ardrossan to Gaza.”