Lockdown may have put the brakes on football training sessions, but junior players in Westhoughton haven't let their fitness slide.

When restrictions put in-person sessions for the Westhoughton Rangers under 12s on hold this year, their coach Minesh Patel set them a challenge: to cover 50km each by mid-February.

The distance could be covered either by walking, running or cycling, and the challenge aimed to encourage the children to stay motivated and keep fit at home.

Weeks later, the challenge is still going, and the team of 36 children, parents and coaches have absolutely smashed the original target.

In fact, they have now covered 10,000km between them.

"Personally, I thought that 50km was quite a lot," said Minesh. "It's phenomenal. The parents have taken part and I've got all the players involved."

He added: "It's inspiring - I think everybody's inspiring each other."

Minesh has been logging the team's progress on a daily basis, and the players have been cheering each other on as the total increases, via a group chat.

Two of the boys, Krishan Patel and James White, have clocked up more than 500km each, with Krishan, 10, reaching an impressive 1,000km.

"I'm absolutely amazed," said Minesh. "I wouldn't have ever thought they would reach this distance."

With in-person training sessions hopefully back on the agenda soon, Minesh is looking forward to getting the boys back together and capitalising on their success.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the team in a few weeks," he said. "I'm hoping they're fit as hell!"