The aptly named Reverend Michael Waters (78) will walk about 76 miles over six separate days, visiting each church in the area including those belonging to Roman Catholic and Methodist denominations.

He and his companions will get water either in a bucket or plastic bottle at each church to carry on to the next one where they will drink some of it using a pilgrim’s shell that Mr Waters carries as a scoop.

He said: “ Drinking the water we’ve carried is a token gesture to remind us of the plight of people who are forced to carry all the water they use for themselves and their families, often for many miles.

“This is not a sponsored walk though any donations will be given to the Christian Aid Week.

“Anyone who would like to join me is welcome although they don’t have to come all the way – some are just walking from one church to the next.”

Mr Waters will finish his trek on Friday when he walks from Egton to Whitby.

The length of his walks range from seven miles on the first day to the longest, 17 miles from Ruswarp to Glaisdale which he did last week.

He has undertaken the trek for Christian Aid Week – an organisation he has supported for more than 50 years.

Christian Aid has been campaigning for over 60 years to end poverty and injustice, with the help of thousands of campaigners, and hundreds of thousands of supporters based in churches and communities across the UK and Ireland.

Christian Aid Week which is from 11-17 May is one the world’s largest fundraising events that will sponsor change.