A GROUP of teenagers raising money for the Australian bushfires relief effort smashed their fundraising target after completing a sponsored walk from Barrow to Ulverston.

The walkers, who all go to Chetwynde School in Barrow, raised more than £800 for an animal charity through the arduous walk.

Summer Eathorne, 13, felt inspired to help the koala bears affected by the Australian fires after seeing coverage in the news.

She and group of friends from Year Eight set about raising money for charity Animals Australia and the group’s fundraising total of £862 has exceeded their goal of £500.

The team - made up of Lucy Bell, Brooke Shore, Caitlin Ritchie, Summer Eathorne, Emily Moon, Emily Baxter and Fiona Mancharn - raised the significant sum by asking people to sponsor the walk.

Starting at Abbey House in Barrow, the group walked around six miles to gather next to the Laurel and Hardy statue in front of Ulverston’s Coronation Hall.

Mum Vanessa Eathorne was full of praise for the 12 and 13-year-olds at the end of the walk. She said: “I am very proud of all the girls. It has been a great achievement to raise the amount of money they have which will help support the injured koalas. They are all very passionate about animal welfare.”

Summer said: “I saw the fires and felt for the koala bears more than anything.”

The walk was delayed a number of times because of stormy weather but the group only had a stiff breeze to contend with on the journey.

Reports suggest koalas in Australia are facing a significant threat of extinction after the fires.

Five thousand of them are thought to have died recently.