Sir Ian strides through Pantiles

Members of the public can walk with Sir Ian at points of his nine walks

Former cricketer Sir Ian Botham has been walking through Tunbridge Wells in Kent on the third day of his walk against childhood leukaemia.

Beefy's Great British Walk is covering 131 miles (211 km) through nine towns in nine days.

Sir Ian set off on the 15 mile (24.1km)route that takes in the Pantiles, Southborough and Penshurst at 1100 BST.

Fellow former England captain Nasser Hussain and singer Cheryl Baker joined Sir Ian on the third leg of his walk.

As Sir Ian strode down a sunlit Mount Pleasant towards the historic Pantiles well-wishers cheered "Come on Beefy" or clapped him on his way.

'Every penny counts'

Scores of people had earlier taken snap shots of the cricketing all-rounder while he spoke to the media in the town centre.

Sir Ian said: "It was great to be in Tunbridge Wells with the great British public supporting me.

"Every penny counts and we can beat childhood leukaemia if we work together to raise as much money as possible."

The former England cricketer will complete on average 15 miles (24km) a day in aid of Leukaemia Research on what is his 12th walk for the cause.

This is the first time a limited number of people can walk with the man known as "Beefy" in exchange for sponsorship.

He started the walk on Friday in Somerset were his cricket career began.

On Monday he will walk through Bury St Edmunds, the route will then take in Stratford-upon-Avon, Llandudno, Harrogate and Milngavie, near Glasgow, before finishing on 18 October in Durham - where he ended his professional cricket career.

Sir Ian, who is president of Leukaemia Research, said he was inspired to start his fundraising walks after meeting youngsters with leukaemia in Taunton, Somerset, 25 years ago.