HOTEL manager Janet Simpson was told not to work her artificial knee too hard by doctors - but she has just completed a five-day trek through the Peruvian Andes.

The 62-year-old, who owns the Gibbon Bridge Hotel in Chipping, took art in an exhausting journey through the Andes to the lost city of Machu Piccu in aid of the charity Scope.

Despite being told by doctors not to work her artificial knee too hard, Janet battled on and at the end of the trek received a certificate for the Most Heroic Woman.

She was the oldest woman on the trip, which was made up of 80 other people from England, Ireland and Wales all raising money for Scope, a charity for sufferers of cerebral palsy.

Janet said: "I feel I have a massive sense of achievement as lots of people thought I wouldn't be able to do it.

"I got a certificate for the most heroic woman and I have a false knee that was put in nine years ago. It's done four challenges and I was told not to do any by the doctors."

It was Janet's fourth trek for charity. She has also cycled through Uganda, trekked through the Himalayas and cycled through the Grand Canyon.

Janet said: "Scope is a very good charity and having been in the hotel business, it's nice to come back down to earth and live in tents for a while and just live basically.

"I've been training four days a week for six months out on my bike and walking in the Lake District."

Around a quarter of a million pounds was raised for the charity as trekkers had to put up £2,500 to be able to take part.

Janet is very grateful to everyone who helped her raise her money which was collected during an auction at her hotel's 21st anniversary where a dinner for six, a barbecue for 12, jewellery and a range of other items went under the hammer.

She said: "Everything was just absolutely amazing. It's unbelievable and if anybody wants to do a challenge like that it's really worth it.

"The challenge and the walking together and the help and organisation was just great.

"There were donkeys there that moved 24 tons every night to the next camp. It was just unbelievable.

"It was one of the most amazing trips I've ever been on especially the lost city of the Incas."