Soldiers marching 100 miles for charity in memory of Babbs Mill lake boys

A group of soldiers are walking more than 100 miles in memory of four boys who died after being pulled from Babbs Mill Lake in Kingshurst last month.

Sgt Brad Hawkins and two colleagues are in the Queens Royal Hussars regiment.

They set off from Wiltshire on Sunday (15/01) and aim to reach Solihull on Friday at midday.

They're raising money for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Finlay Butler, eight, his younger brother Samuel, six, their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and another boy, Jack Johnson, 10, died after falling into the water on 11 December.

Emergency services arrived at the beauty spot on December 11 after reports four children had been playing on the ice and fallen through into the lake.

All four were pulled from the water after an "heroic effort" from emergency services and members of the public.

The boys were then rushed to two Birmingham hospitals; Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Heartlands Hospital.

They arrived in critical conditions but could not be saved.

Mr Hawkins told ITV Central him and his two colleagues aim to reach Warwick by Wednesday and finish in Solihull at Babbs Mill Lake by Friday.

On their way to Solihull from their base in Wiltshire they will pass Swindon, Burford and Warwick. Sgt Hawkins, who used to play at the lake as a child, said he wanted to support his local area.