A 15-mile coastal trek across hills, steep slopes, narrow paths and tough stairs is to become an annual event after it raised more than £2,000 for two Dorset charities.

Kieron Franklin, of JK House Training Centre, organised the Coastal Tab in support of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) and MYTIME Young Carers.

Each charity received £1,108 from the money raised.

The Coastal Tab followed a route taking in some stunning scenery on Purbeck.

The final stretch took participants to the Royal Marines Commando Memorial, at Emmetts Hill, where poppies were laid in memory of John Thornton.

The Royal Marines Officer, from Ferndown, was tragically killed while serving in Afghanistan.

He was 22.

Kieron said everyone involved had enjoyed the day and their sense of achievement at completing such a tough physical challenge had made it worth the effort.

He added: “It is an honour and a pleasure to work with the JTYAF, a charity that goes above and beyond to help its community.

“It’s also an honour to hold an event of this size in the memory of such an outstanding young man.

“Brothers in arms, courage, determination, cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

“All the things a Royal Marine lives by and all the things that the Coastal Tab enhances.”

The JTYAF, which was founded in 2008 in John’s memory, has recently sent out awards to ten students at Ferndown Upper School thanks to money raised from the Coastal Tab.

Pete Thornton, Chair of the Trustees, said: “We can’t thank Kieron and his team at JK House Training Centre enough.

“At such an uncertain and challenging time for young people our JTYAF Awards are more important than ever, recognising achievement, encouraging success, and inspiring young people to ‘Climb as high as they can dream’,”

Next year’s Coastal Tab has been set for June 11, 2022.

The JK House Training Centre website – jkhousetrainingcentre.co.uk – has details about its charity challenges and also its work with stroke rehabilitation.