SOLDIERS dressed in full armour and sandals trekked around York's city walls to raise money for Caroline's Rainbow Foundation.

Three Roman soldiers took part in the 20-mile charity walk which saw them set off from Bootham bar at 8am and circle the city walls eight times.

They had planned ten laps, but the warm weather conditions made that unfeasible.

Donations were collected at a string of locations around the city, throughout the day.

The walk also launched the city's first regular Roman soldier tour, which will operate at 1pm every day from Saturday until September, starting at the Roman Bathhouse, in St Sampson's Square.

The tour has been created by the city's award-winning resident Roman tour guide Maximus Gluteus, otherwise known as Keith Mulhearn.

Keith was the brains behind York's first Roman festival last summer and picked up the highly prized Ambassador Award at the York Tourism Awards in November.

He said: "It is not just a historic tour. It is a good fun hour so people can learn about the past and what it was like being a Roman soldier."

Updated: 11:19 Monday, April 26, 2004