Mascots return after charity trek

Baggie Bird and Baggie Bird Junior returned to their Hawthorns nest after taking in football grounds across Britain in the name of charity with fellow Wolves and Walsall mascots.

The West Bromwich Albion mascots joined forces with friends posing as Wolves' Wolfie and Walsall's Swifty to visit all 92 Premier League and Football League grounds inside six days, raising £2,000 towards their fundraising target of £20,000 for the County Air Ambulance and Cancer Research.

The challenge was organised by Baggie Bird David Challoner, aged 24 from Bearwood, following the death of close friend and Albion fan Sophie Hill-Jones. The 24-year-old from Halesowen was involved in a crash on the M42 in May and was airlifted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital where she died a week later.

He was joined by Baggie Bird Junior Richard Eades, aged 32, from Wednesbury, and friends Paul Mansell, aged 24, from Lichfield who was dressed as Wolfie and 21-year-old Benjamin Marsden as Swifty.

Mr Challoner said the efforts of the County Air Ambulance had helped give Sophie's family the chance to say goodbye while Cancer Research was also close to his heart following the death of his nan Joan from the disease just a month later.

The four-strong team took it in turns to complete driving stretches of around 14 hours a day, clocking up 2,800 miles, picking up shirts and other memorabilia to raffle off.

Mr Eades said: "It has been gruelling and hard work but well worth it to raise money for such worthy causes."

lWolfie Paul Mansell, Baggie Bird Junior Richard Eades, Baggie Bird David Challoner and Swifty Benjamin Marsden arrive back at The Hawthorns.