A couple, who spent five gruelling days trekking across the Sahara Desert, have raised over £5,000 for charity.

Childhood sweethearts Caroline and Andrew Acton, both 43, of Dale View Avenue in Chingford, set off on their 70km journey through the remote landscape just outside of Marrakech on November 13. 

The couple were raising money for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) in memory of Mrs Acton's father Michael Taylor who passed away in 2011 after a long battle with the incurable neurological disease.   

PSP is caused by the progressive death of nerve cells in the brain, leading to difficulty with balance, movement, vision, speech and swallowing. 

The average life expectancy after diagnosis is just seven years.

They were accompanied along with route by traditional Berber guides, 14 other trekkers and camels which carried their backpacks as they walked for up to eight hours a day. 

Mrs Acton said: "The trek was mentally, physically and emotionally draining. 

"We walked for hours in the heat. It was particularly difficult between mid-morning and lunchtime. 

"We were lucky in that we had worn our boots in. There were people with us who were in dire straits.

"Their boots were falling apart and had blisters everywhere." 

Before setting off, they were £500 short of their £5,000 fundraising target, but have now raised £5,543. 

The highlight of the challenge was reaching the summit of the Erg Chigaga Dunes. 

Mrs Acton added: "The dunes were incredibly steep and we were slipping everywhere, it took all of our energy to get to the top, but it was stunningly beautiful and well worth it."

"I stopped and thought of dad and about why we were doing this, it was quite emotional."