A COACH full of Warrington volunteers from St Stephen's, St Alban's, St Peter's and St Joseph's joined a cohort from Liverpool for the 36-hour journey to Lourdes at the end of July for a pilgrimage.

Youngsters aged between 15 and 21 gave up part of their holidays and spent the year raising money to fund their trip to Lourdes.

Some volunteers helped by taking the sick to mass and making sure they have enough fluids throughout the service.

Joanne Lawton, 59, who started going on the pilgrimage when she was 16, said: "Everyone is so happy out there and it is lovely to go back and see the new youth helpers working there.

"They work hard throughout the year to fund the trip and then work the entire week, assisting the sick and disabled by being on call from morning until 10pm.

"It was a wonderful week and they are already planning next year's trip."

The pilgrimage site of Lourdes is near the Pyrenees mountains in France.

Every year, it is visited by millions of Roman Catholics to see the site of a famous vision experienced by a young girl called Bernadette Soubirous and to be healed by its supposedly miraculous waters.

Pilgrims also take part in a Torchlight Marian Procession which takes place every evening before a service of mass takes place in the grotto.