Jill Scott arrives in Bishop Auckland on Comic Relief challenge

Initially expected at Bishop Auckland Football Club around 7.30pm, it wasn’t until more than four hours later, just after 11.35pm, that Scott finished a 111-mile cycle from Manchester in the cold rain.

Jill Scott arrives in Bishop Auckland on her ‘Coming Home’ Comic Relief challenge. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Jill Scott arrives in Bishop Auckland on her ‘Coming Home’ Comic Relief challenge. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The former England and Manchester City midfielder is running and cycling from Wembley Stadium on her five-day ‘Coming Home’ challenge, set to finish at the Stadium of Light tonight (Friday, June 12).

She began Thursday’s ride less than 10 hours after completing a 38.5-mile ultramarathon from Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium to Manchester City’s Joie Stadium.

Jill Scott arrives in Bishop Auckland on her ‘Coming Home’ Comic Relief challenge. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Jill Scott arrives in Bishop Auckland on her ‘Coming Home’ Comic Relief challenge. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

And almost 15-and-a-half hours later, after battling the peaks of the Yorkshire Dales in adverse conditions, she was cheered across the line in Bishop Auckland by crowds with England flags and ‘Go Jill’ signs.

She was still able to muster a smile as she posed with fans after climbing off the saddle, despite facing a 28-mile run on the final leg in just a few hours, starting around 8am.

Jill Scott arrives in Bishop Auckland on her ‘Coming Home’ Comic Relief challenge. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The 39-year-old said: “There have been so many people beeping their horns, coming out to spur us on, and it really does help.

“I’m not going to lie – this morning I literally couldn’t get out of bed, my legs hurt that much.

“Having that support means everything, especially when you’re on the bike in weather like this. I can’t quite believe it’s June.

“Everyone’s been so lovely, but the 38-mile run yesterday (Wednesday, June 10) – it killed us (sic).”

A choir turned out to sing Jill through Leyburn and as she approached the finish line in Bishop Auckland farmers turned out in their tractors to spur her on.

Her final leg will take her through Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, up through Durham and into Sunderland where she is expected to cross the line at the Stadium of Light around 4.30pm.