An eight-year-old has smashed her fundraising target after walking the 21-mile route of the Central line in memory of her aunt who died of breast cancer.

Charlie King, of Soham, in Cambridgeshire, walked from station to station with her mother from Redbridge to Ealing Broadway in west London on Sunday and Monday this bank holiday weekend.

She was raising money for Cancer Research UK following the death of her aunt Teresa, 39, in February this year.

The family, which used to live in Ilford and Basildon before moving to Cambridgeshire, are big West Ham Utd fans who use the Central line to travel into London for matches.

Transport for London (TfL) then offered to take Charlie back from Ealing Broadway to Redbridge in the driver’s cab of a Central line train.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Charlie King at Wanstead Tube station on Sunday.

Charlie’s mother Lani King described the gruelling schedule as they set out on the 26 tube station trek   which included Wanstead, Leytonstone and Leyton.

The 28-year-old said: “On Sunday we walked from 9am to 4pm only stopping for lunch and a few breaks, and after staying at a hotel overnight we continued from 10am to 3.30pm the next day.

“By the end of the first day our feet were hurting and it was tough to get going again for the second day because we were both aching.

“The last five miles were definitely the most difficult but I am proud of Charlie for completing it.

“It was great experience to get a chance to go in the driver’s cab on the way back, the driver showed us how to open the doors and told us about the history of the underground.”

Before the walk, a target of £800 was set, but Charlie has smashed that target with more than £2,500 raised so far.

Lani said: “Charlie wanted to do something different to raise money and we came up with this idea, I am so proud of her.

“We are all just blown away by the support, I think people realise what a big thing this is for a young girl to be attempting.”

To donate to Charlie’s cause, click here.